Colby Covington blasts Belal Muhammad for ‘racist’ suggestion over UFC title shot

Colby Covington has again accused Belal Muhammad of racism for his suggestion that ‘Chaos’ was only preferred for a title shot for being white.

Covington rejected the notion that Muhammad’s UFC 288 win over Gilbert Burns on Saturday night has done anything to see him leap ahead in the race to face welterweight champion Leon Edwards. 

And he referred back to a now-deleted tweet Muhammad replied to. Journalist Aaron Bronsteter wrote: ‘Edwards on the welterweight picture: ‘I think there’s a storyline for the Masvidal fight. For the Colby fight there’s literally no storylines. He sat out for a year and then slid into a title shot, it’s weird.’

Muhammad simply responded: ‘He’s white.’

Covington, who is a staunch supporter of former president Donald Trump, blasted Muhammad’s previous comment while insisting he is still next to face Edwards. 

Colby Covington claims Belal Muhammad’s win over Gilbert Burns does not earn a title shot

Covington is next in line, says Dana White, and the duo seem likely to fight later this year

In a now deleted tweet, Muhammad appeared to claim Colby Covington was favoured for being white

He told Submission Radio: ‘It’s not like that fight was gonna sell pay-per-views or make this a big pay-per-view draw. No, those guys are nobodies.

‘If anything, they’re just trying to get rid of that racist, ‘Remember the Racist’ Belal Muhammad. It’s disgusting, man. ‘Bill Lial’ is a racist. The fact that he said I earned something on the color of my skin because I’m white. 

‘No, nobody earns — that’s disgusting that you could ever look at someone like that and point fingers and judge them because the color of my skin. That’s clear racism and no one walked it back, no one’s said sorry for it, none of this. So, it’s disgusting that that loser would say that.

‘No, I did not earn this off the color of my skin. I earned this cause numbers, because of my accomplishments, beating world champion after world champion after Hall of Famer after Hall of Famer. I’m up here for a reason, not because the color of my skin.’

He then added: ‘There was only one winner, guys. They weren’t guaranteed anything. 

‘Everybody knows, Dana said it over and over again, I don’t know how many times the dorks over in the MMA media need it to be explained, I’m next for the world title fight. They weren’t fighting for anything at UFC 288.’

The UFC were initially planning to have Edwards headline the London card on July 22 against Covington but that now appears unlikely. 

It was a prospect Covington was relishing having sampled the atmosphere when he weighed in as a back-up to ‘Rocky’s’ title defence against Kamaru Usman in March. 

Covington was in London as back-up for Edwards’ fight against Kamaru Usman 

The American continued: ‘The real facts and truth of the knowledge of why it didn’t pan out — there’s only one person to blame, guys.

‘The UFC, they already switched the card from ESPN to a pay-per-view, and Dana already had it set in stone that it was gonna be a pay-per-view. I was on board, UFC was pushing for it. 

‘They really wanted to give the fans of the U.K. a show because they realize how good of business and how good of energy it is over there in the U.K. in that O2 Arena. Those fans are amazing. Like honestly, it’s the most electric fans I’ve ever been around.

Edwards beat Kamaru Usman in their trilogy and all eyes are on his next opponent  

‘The only reason that fight didn’t happen is Leon f****** ‘Scott.’ That’s the only reason it didn’t happen and it’s sad. 

‘But you know what, guess what, guys? Now he’s gotta come to American soil and surrender like Cornwallis. Yes, I’m talking about Yorktown.’

Edwards was initially resistant to the UFC pushing Covington forward as his next challenger. 

He believes the controversial fighter has not done enough to deserve his opportunity but recently it appeared as though his stance has softened, tweeting: ‘Honestly I don’t care who I fight next. This whole division is light work #KingLeon.’