Colby Covington rejects Bo Nickal's callout for potential UFC White House fight, calls him a “quitter”

The former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington defeated Luke Rockhold at Real American Freestyle 05 with ease. His performance has boosted his confidence and also sparked fresh controversy. Soon after the win, Covington firmly dismissed a public challenge from rising UFC star Bo Nickal for a potential UFC White House fight.

The match at RAF 05 was one-sided from the start. Covington, a former All-American wrestler from Oregon State, controlled the contest early. By the second period, he had built a 12-0 lead and closed the bout by technical fall. The result further strengthened his belief that he belongs on major cards, even as he turned down Nickal’s challenge.

Colby Covington mocks Bo Nickal and shuts down White House callout

Before RAF 05, Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold had both questioned Bo Nickal’s MMA abilities. This led to a heated response from Nickal, who later challenged Covington on X to fight him at the proposed UFC White House event. Nickal’s frustration also came after he was pulled from a planned RAF bout with Yoel Romero, who missed weight. Covington openly disagreed with Nickal’s decision to withdraw.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Covington mocked Nickal harshly. He referred to Nickal as someone who quits under pressure and accused him of backing out of fights repeatedly. Covington also mentioned Nickal’s recent knockout loss to Reinier de Ridder. He sarcastically corrected himself for earlier calling de Ridder a kickboxer, saying he was actually a grappler. According to Covington, the fact that a grappler forced Nickal to quit proved his point. He ended by saying he has no interest in competing against fighters he believes are unreliable.

Covington added that Nickal would need to wait his turn. He said many fighters want to face him in Real American Freestyle. He explained that he prefers opponents who are dependable and loyal to the promotion. In his view, Nickal does not meet those standards.

Despite rejecting Nickal, Covington still hopes to fight on the historic UFC White House card. He sees his RAF matches as part of his preparation. In a FOX News interview before RAF 05, Covington said his plan was to use these freestyle bouts as training. He hopes this approach helps him secure a spot on the White House card in June, possibly on the South Lawn for Donald Trump.

Several big UFC names have shown interest in the event. Dana White is expected to begin shaping the card by February.

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