The final UFC event of the year is just around the corner, with top welterweight contenders Colby 'Chaos Covington and Joaquin 'New Mansa' Buckley set to headline this weekend in Tampa.
Given Colby Covington's outspoken and often controversial nature, it's no surprise that the current welterweight champion is already turning down Chaos' potential challenge.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Belal Muhammad shares painful prediction for UFC Tampa: Covington vs Buckley
Heading into the main event of UFC Tampa, Colby Covington remains a moderate underdog to Joaquin Buckley, with approximately 75% of Tapology Community Picks going in favor of 'New Mansa'.
These numbers shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise, considering Covington is coming off a loss and a 12-month layoff, while Buckley is coming off five straight major wins – including a TKO over Stephen Thompson at UFC 307.
Breaking down the UFC Tampa card via the RTS Podcast, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad predicted a brutal knockout victory for the surging Buckley.
'I've been saying it for years, him [Covington] sucks. And I hope Buckley breaks his jaw and knocks him out cold – Buckley can knock him out cold… Colby's striking is terrible, his wrestling looked terrible in his last fight, I think Buckley is athletic enough to defend those takedowns.”
Muhammad, a veteran wrestler himself, acknowledged that Buckley's plan could be undone if he fails to keep the fight standing or burns himself out with wild shots.
“He can't let Colby keep him on the fence and wear him down… In his last fight against Wonderboy, he got a little tired, but I think that was mostly because he was struggling offensively.
“You don't really have to hold Colby, you don't really have to shoot at Colby because he can't strike. There's nothing he's going to throw at you that's scary, it won't hurt… Take one with you to give him one and show him there are levels to attack.
Even if Colby Covington were to upset the odds and score an underdog victory, Muhammad isn't keen on sharing the octagon with Chaos anytime soon, teasing, “The only way me and Colby fight is if I put him on street see – he is going to be beaten.
“He says, 'I live in a two-million-dollar mansion because I can't be in the hotel because of you guys' – it's because you're scared, you're scared, and you can't show your face anywhere. other fighters because you would get beaten… He is a nobody and no one cares about him anymore.”
Belal Muhammad celebrates 'new blood' at 170 pounds before UFC Tampa
Looking at the broader 170-pound title picture, the “better” outcome for division progression would be a win in Buckley – with Muhammad keen to celebrate the “new blood” entering that title conversation.
“100%, right. Now there is new blood in the division, like we have Shavkat [Rakhmonov] next, but who's next?
“There are definitely openings, Ian just lost, so if Buckley goes out now and gets this win, he's right there in the mix… And people weren't talking about him being in the mix a year ago.”
Of course, Muhammad had no choice but to target former champion Kamaru Usman, who, according to 'Remember the Name', is wasting his time by sitting in place while newcomers like 'New Mansa' remain active.
“All it takes is a guy like Usman to sit on the sidelines, sit in his spot and not fight any of these guys… He does nothing and waits to see what happens with the division; he'll have to fight one of these new guys
.”UFC Tampa: Covington vs Buckley airs live this weekend – Saturday, December 14.
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