As Hulk Hogan did, Colby Covington bleeds red, white and blue. So, it is no surprise that the moment the pair shared backstage at a UFC event seven months before Hogan’s unfortunate passing is a memory that will live with Covington forever.
Though his time in the limelight is slowly coming to an end, ‘Chaos’ was a consistent top 5 competitor in the UFC welterweight division for the better part of a decade. Managing to still keep his name in the headlines, Covington welcomed a grappling match against Luke Rockhold at RAF 5, a bout which he dominated.
While his mixed martial arts career may still have life, with plans of a potential slot on the UFC White House card, the 37-year-old’s most recent outing was a doctor stoppage defeat at the hands of Joaquin Buckley. Despite coming up short against the younger, hungrier fighter, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for him on the night.
For Colby Covington, the standout moment for him on the night was an interaction he had with Hulk Hogan before making his walk to the octagon. Alongside his achievements in the sport, Covington put his exchange with Hogan on a pedestal.
“Yeah, man, that meant everything, man,” Covington told the media following his win at RAF 5. “It was one of the greatest moments of my UFC career.”
“Just having Hulk Hogan backstage, you know, praying for me before the fight. Just giving me so many positive words of encouragement.”
“You know, that’s a day that will live in my head for the rest of my life. So, super grateful to Hulk Hogan.”
Colby Covington has publicly stated his love for professional wrestling ever since people began taking notice of his ability in the cage.
Taking some pointers from the pro wrestling world, Covington adopted a new persona. The switch from a quiet, impressive fighter to a brash, outspoken, and often controversial villain was a huge success for his career.
The NCAA Division I All-American talked his way into main events and title fights with his bad guy character, a role that he continues to portray to gain traction for his fights.
While it was his words that made him famous, it was Colby Covington’s ability to outwork his opponents with wrestling and cardio that kept him at the top for so long. While credit must go to Covington himself for putting in the hard miles, he acknowledged Hulk Hogan for setting him on that path.
“You know, he’s the first person that really inspired me to be a great wrestler,” Covington continued.
“You know, Hulkamania was the greatest movement of all time in any sport.”
Related: UFC fighters remember Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan wasn’t just the best and most prominent wrestler of his time; he was a man who personified larger-than-life strength.
The Hulkster’s presence transcended generations, and while a common criticism aimed at him was his lack of in-ring ability, it hasn’t stopped a large portion of fans from including the late Hogan in their Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers.
Fans around the world looked up to him, younger fans wanted to be like him, and inadvertently, he was the reason many chose to venture into martial arts, whether that be competing as a sports entertainer in the ring or as a fighter at the highest level in the cage.
“It inspired me in my wrestling career and my UFC career,” Covington revealed about his thoughts on Hulk Hogan. “And, he’s meant so much to me in my journey to being a martial artist.”
Listen to Colby Covington’s heartfelt message to the late Hulk Hogan in the video below.
