Colby Covington has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the UFC’s visit to the White House this June, and he has selected a surprising dance partner for the occasion.
The controversial welterweight contender is campaigning for a bout against Paddy Pimblett, capitalizing on the fallout from Pimblett’s recent main event loss at UFC 324. Covington, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, views himself as a lock for the June event and believes a “USA vs. UK” narrative is the perfect way to celebrate America.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Covington did not hold back in his take on last Saturday’s headliner between Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. While Gaethje walked away with the victory, Covington was unimpressed by the performance of both men. He branded the former interim lightweight champion with a new moniker, referring to Gaethje as the “King of CTE” and claiming he looked “old, slow, and punch-drunk.”
However, his critique of Pimblett was even more scathing. Covington argued that the Pimblett crumbled under the bright lights, pointing to “amateur, rookie mistakes” and a sluggish demeanor that betrayed his lack of experience at the elite level.
The logic behind Covington’s callout extends beyond simple trash talk. He thinks that a matchup with Pimblett at welterweight makes logistical sense given the Brit’s well-documented weight cuts. Covington suggested that Pimblett, who often balloons in size between camps, would be better suited for the 170-pound division, especially now that his title aspirations at lightweight have hit a roadblock.
“He’s a big guy, he probably weighs more than me at walk-around weight anyway,” Covington noted. By moving up, Pimblett could avoid the grueling cut while stepping into a high-profile “super fight” atmosphere that doesn’t require title stakes to sell.
The backdrop to this clash is the UFC’s plan to host a fight card at the White House on June 14, 2026. Covington argues that the event’s historical significance—marking the 250th anniversary of the United States—demands an international rivalry. He dismissed the idea of fighting fellow American contenders like Stephen Thompson, insisting that beating a foreigner in the nation’s capital is the only appropriate booking.
“Paddy Pimblett makes sense. He’s got a bowl cut, he’s got an accent,” Covington stated, aiming to turn their simmering backstage tension from UFC 314 into a global spectacle.
