Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington has been a loyal Donald Trump supporter since the billionaire businessman announced his candidacy for president in 2015. He’s been to the Oval Office, attended events at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Florida resort, and appeared at campaign rallies.
Following his UFC on ESPN 5 win over former champion Robbie Lawler, the president called Covington to congratulate him on the win. Seemingly having more access to the U.S. president than UFC CEO Dana White, Covington spoke with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and asked him to put in a good word with White about being part of the UFC White House event.
“I was talking to Trump the other day at Mar-a-Lago, so I said, hey, can you put in a word to Dana? Uncle Dana is going to be having an earful hopefully from Trump and hopefully they’ll let me on (the fight card),” Covington told The Schmo.
“I want to represent America on its biggest stage. It’s going to be the biggest event in the history of any sporting event, so I’m hoping that Hunter Campbell and Dana White bless me and let me fight on that card.”
Covington last fought in December 2024, losing to Joaquin Buckley via TKO. Approaching a year on the sidelines, Covington would like to book a fight before next summer’s historic event.
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“I’d like to fight before then. I’d like to get a fight in January or February,” Covington said. “We’ve been talking, so hopefully they can put an opponent together that makes sense of the company. I’d like to get a little warm-up fight before then and then fight at the White House second fight of the year.”
Covington had some opponents in mind, but it’s ultimately up to UFC matchmakers.
“There’s some interesting guys out there, like Gilbert Burns makes sense. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. [Nate] Diaz is always fun. Not Nick because he’s on his episode and I want him to get healthy. But maybe Nate comes back. You never know,” Covington said. “I just want big fights and guys that are legends of the game.”
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