Colby Covington is making news again, but not for a high-profile fight or title run. Instead, the former interim welterweight champion is targeting Nick and Nate Diaz, two of the most well-known personalities in MMA history. Following a disheartening loss to Joaquin Buckley, ‘Chaos’ appears keen to stay relevant by attacking opponents who have been inactive for years. However, his most recent callouts did not sit well with UFC star Kevin Holland, who wasted no time in exposing the dark truth behind Covington’s challenge.
Covington recently expressed his desire to fight the Diaz brothers, describing them as “legends” who attract massive attention and sell pay-per-views. “(I want to fight) one of the Diaz brothers, you know, they’re big names, legends of the game, so they draw attention, they sell PPVs, and they get people excited for their fights. I want to fight legends,” Covington told Submission Radio. ‘Chaos’ justified his callouts by citing his extensive experience against top-ranked opponents and claiming that his latest short-notice fight was a favor to the UFC.
However, despite portraying the challenge as a quest for greatness, the move has been widely condemned as a calculated attempt to secure an easy, high-profile bout rather than face challenging opponents who can actually wrestle to counter his striking game. Kevin Holland, who won against Gunnar Nelson at UFC London, took to social media to highlight the situation. He tweeted, “No I’m probably the best he will get, plus I can’t wrestle @ColbyCovMMA.” The Diaz brothers have long been fan favorites, but their recent inactivity really makes Covington’s callouts questionable.
No I’m probably the best he will get plus I can’t wrestle @ColbyCovMMA https://t.co/wv0g15Talt
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) March 25, 2025
Nate Diaz left the UFC after defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 and eventually turned to boxing. Nick Diaz, on the other hand, has not competed since a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in 2021. While Nate has voiced a desire to return to the UFC and compete for a title, there is no evidence that either brother is actively seeking a bout right now. So, Colby Covington’s decision to seek them over active welterweights raises doubts regarding his real intentions as pointed out by Kevin Holland. However, this wasn’t the only controversial callout he made during the interview. In fact, he even went after a UFC commentator.
Colby Covington wants to confront a UFC commentator
Colby Covington‘s most recent interview was more than simply a callout to inactive fighters. After targeting the Diaz brothers, the outspoken welterweight shifted his focus to an unexpected target: UFC commentator Paul Felder. ‘Chaos’ is known for his brash nature, and he has never shied away from trash talk, but this time he went above and beyond. Rather than simply replying to Felder’s recent comments about Covington’s persona ‘fading’ and he is trying too hard to stay relevant, ‘Chaos’ leveled a crazy claim about an alleged earlier incident, proving that their conflict goes beyond words.
Felder, who established himself as one of the UFC’s toughest and most exciting fighters during his career, is now well-known for his work as a pundit. However, Colby Covington believes that Felder isn’t as straightforward as he appears, citing an alleged instance in which the former fighter was apparently chained to a toilet at a military base due to intoxication. It’s unclear whether Covington’s accusation is true, but his decision to air the tale came with an added challenge: it suggested that if Felder continued to speak up, things may turn physical. “If he keeps running his mouth from the commentary booth, he’s gonna get slapped as well,” Covington warned.
While Felder has yet to comment, Covington’s penchant for causing controversy is well-known in the MMA community. From personal attacks to questionable callouts, he has built his reputation by pushing boundaries and frequently making enemies in the process. However, his new outburst creates more concerns than answers. Is Covington truly interested in settling a score, or is this simply another desperate attempt to stay relevant after consecutive losses? Given Felder’s respected reputation and Covington’s dwindling credibility, it’s safe to say that the war of words is far from over. What do you think? Is Colby Covington doing this for publicity? Let us know in the comments.
The post Slamming Colby Covington’s Call Outs for Nate & Nick Diaz, UFC Star Shows Ugly Reality to Former Interim Champ appeared first on EssentiallySports.