Tyron Woodley didn’t have too many positive things to say about Colby Covington after news of his retirement.
Earlier this week, UFC officials changed Covington’s status from “active” to “retired” on the promotion’s official website after he reportedly notified of his decision. The 38-year-old former interim welterweight champion hasn’t competed since a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024.
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Woodley fought Covington in a September 2020 headliner, but lost the fight by TKO due to a rib injury suffered in Round 5. The former American Top Team training partners turned into foes, and Woodley still isn’t a fan of Covington or his act, which led to him becoming one of the most polarizing fighters on the roster.
“His whole brand was modeled around an act that he was such a Trump supporter, America this and that, when really he was just a Drake-listening, Beats headphones-wearing, hanging out in Miami, thinking he’s a gangster guy, who put on an act and a character,” Woodley said in an interview with New Betting Sites U.K. “Your whole thing was baiting. Colby was piggybacking that because it was causing controversy. He wanted to create his own version of being a heel but in MMA. I paid Colby weekly to be a training partner for Rory just to torture him. He was an opportunist who took advantage of a quiet moment in MMA. I would say he’s tough. I would say he’s durable.
“I would say he’s a person that doesn’t work very hard, but he has crazy cardio. People hated him in the gym because he wouldn’t work very hard, but he had a gas tank, and he knew staying close to you was the best for him. He found a way to do that. He talked himself into positions that his record and ranking weren’t ever in. The sport was quiet. Ronda was gone. Jon was chilling out. Conor was out, and nobody was there, so we were willing to listen to him. He’s an opportunist that took advantage of a moment where the sport was quiet with stars, and we were just willing to listen to WWE and go on the ride with him. That’s his legacy.”
Covington has since remained active through Real American Freestyle wrestling, picking up wins over former UFC champion Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. He meets Chris Weidman in the co-main event of RAF 09 on May 30 at College Park Center in Dallas.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Colby Covington rival calls out legacy: ‘Your whole thing was baiting’
