Kamaru Usman's message to Colby Covington: 'Now you have to beg me for that fight'

ATLANTA – Kamaru Usman had to put together a long winning streak just to force his way into the UFC’s welterweight title picture, much less actually get a championship match. 

So now that he holds the gold, Usman has a message for would-be challenger Colby Covington: Slow your roll.

“Now you have to beg me for that fight,” Usman said to the former interim welterweight champion.

Covington made a spectacle of himself throughout March’s UFC 235 fight week leading up to Usman’s title win over Tyron Woodley, including a near-brawl at a buffet at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas after the bout.

But as Usman explained to reporters backstage at UFC 236 this past Saturday night, now that he’s the one with the platform, Covington no longer gets to dictate the terms on when, and if, he gets a title shot. 

“We all know Colby has avoided this fight for a long, long time,” Usman told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “And you know what? Now it’s time for you to do the appropriate work to make sure that you deserve this. Because that’s what he does, that’s what he thrives on – he thinks he deserves everything. He always puts out out there ‘I deserve this, this is what you owe me.’ No. It’s not about that. You’re not in the driver’s seat to make that decision.”

Clearly, Usman is irked by the perception Covington is owed something. Usman had to earn his belt the hard way, so he doesn’t see why Covington is necessarily first in line.

“This guy feels really entitled, and you see him all the time, and especially now, this whole rant ‘Dana you promised me this, why did you give me this interim belt?'” Usman said. “He nags, and that’s just kind of his mentality, how he goes about situations – and that’s not who I am. We immigrated here to give me that opportunity. I had to take that opportunity. I had to put my heart and soul into what I was going to do in order to be at the pinnacle. I put the hard work in, which is why I’m in the position I’m at now.”

While Covington has made his case with six consecutive victories, divisions move on, and with Anthony Pettis making a big statement with a knockout of Stephen Thompson – as well as with both Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren on the rise – Usman, who is still on the mend from double hernia surgery, is content to let things play out before committing to his next opponent. 

“Look at where the division is now,” Usman said. “You’ve got freaking Anthony Pettis coming in and knocking out ‘Wonderboy,’ two-time title challenger. You’ve got Masvidal coming in and knocking out Darren Till, former title challenger. There’s some things that are going on there. So based on how Ben Askren does in his next performance, that could be a possible option. Don’t forget Santiago Ponzinibbio is still out there. So, there’s options out there.

To hear more from Kamaru Usman, check out the video above.

And or more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.