Colby Covington: WWE Style Heel, Out-Right Douche Bag or Both?

Written by: Morgan Slade

Like most Mixed Martial Arts fans, Colby Covington came to my attention somewhat recently. His Unanimous Decision victory over Demian Maia at a UFC Fight Night in October was largely forgettable. Did Covington put on a dominant wrestling showcase to thwart one of the most dynamic Jiu Jitsu practitioners the UFC has ever seen? Yes. Was it wildly entertaining or memorable? No. Covington executed a smart game plan with relative ease against what appeared to be a rapidly aging Maia. All told a decision victory over a 40 year old - who seemingly died before our eyes in a title fight against Tyron Woodley a few months back - is not going to shake the world.

Where Covington launched his names into the MMA headlines - and cross hairs of everyone in Brazil - was in his post fight interview. Before even having Daniel Cormier’s microphone in his face he started screaming to current Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley that he was coming for him. The next part though, was where a potential all time “Heel” legend was born.

“BRAZIL YOU’RE A DUMP, ALL YOU FILTHY ANIMALS SUCK…” Covington howled to an onslaught of boo’s.

In the moment I found this sort of amusing. As a fan of the NFL, NBA, MLB and EPL as well as MMA it can be fun to hear fighters speak honestly, truthfully, and sometimes obnoxiously about opponents. Anything outside the usual book of accepted nothings regurgitated by athletes of the leagues previously mentioned can be fun and refreshing. Not to say most mixed martial artists are wordsmiths - see Tony Ferguson’s cringe worthy attempt at calling out Conor Mcgregor - but for most of the UFC’s history those who did it, did it well. They did it naturally, Chael Sonnen, Conor Mcgregor, Michael Bisping and the Diaz brothers antagonized opponents in a way that seemed either authentic to who they were as a person; or was at least original. In all fairness Chael definitely veered into the WWE “heel” lane but he did it at a time when it was fresh and new for the UFC.

In what is now a post McGregor UFC - I think he’ll come back so hopefully that won’t be an accurate distinction for long - Shit talking and showboating seem to be a necessity to get big fights. Love McGregor or hate him, he has undoubtedly changed the game for ways good and somewhat annoying. The sport is bigger because of him, no doubt; but this new “punch your own ticket” idea is a bit of a drag. It leads to fighters feeling a need to cultivate some character or false persona, to be louder, more obnoxious and in Covington’s case more offensive. Conor McGregor has without a doubt talked his way into certain opportunities in his career, he did it with a ferocity and abrasiveness that was clever and original. He also knocked a lot of people out; quickly, decisively and brutally. The effect is the idea that being good simply is not enough, genuine personality aside you’ve gotta throw some verbal jabs to even get in the octagon with someone who matters.

All of that leads us to Colby Covington, the question posed at the top, his tumultuous night in Brazil and the interesting weeks that have followed. Since his fight with Maia he has doubled down on his anti-Brazil rhetoric, coined the term “Make Welterweight Great Again”, been punked by Fabricio Werdum, spoiled the new Star Wars movie on twitter and posted a video of an elderly Brazilian man being jumped on the street to further disparage the country.

I understand that the whole anti Brazil thing is his go to shtick at the moment. Covington appears to be naturally outspoken and loud but he is also taking it to an absurd level. As if in today's UFC merely personal attacks are not enough, he has to go at a whole country. A white guy from California continuously referring to the predominantly brown population of Brazil as filthy animals is at the very least in bad taste. Covington is pushing the “Heel” role to its outstretched limits. After Rafael Dos Anjos beat Robbie Lawler in a UFC Fight Night Main Event on December 16th Covington did not miss a beat. He posted a video to his Twitter account of an elderly man being jumped in the streets with the caption “Live Footage from Brazil! Look at this #FilthyAnimal go, @(Rafeal Dos Anjos) win over old man Lawler was so inspiring, now everyone back in that #DUMP is trying to jump old men and run away.”

In my opinion that takes you from “Heel” straight to asshole. Reveling in someone else’s misery to make a stupid joke isn’t “part of the game”. It’s not working the business or attempting to punch your own ticket, it’s sad and embarrassing. It’s also a bad look for the UFC in today’s modern climate of extreme sensitivity. Colby Covington would surely read this piece and lump me in with the over sensitive “snowflakes”. Covington’s an absolute alpha male, if the reworking of a Donald Trump campaign slogan didn’t make that clear. He also took to his Twitter to spoil the ending of “The Last Jedi” - the newest “Star Wars’ film - to save “you nerds 2h 33m of your virgin lives”. As the tweet informs us, all Covington’s haters are virgins. Of course they are, only true alpha males could handle Covington’s hard truths and raw opinions.

All of this makes Covington’s confrontation with former Heavyweight Champion - and Brazilian - Fabricio Werdum so absolutely awesome. During a UFC event in Australia Werdum passed Covington outside a hotel and confronted him. Werdum claims Covington shouted at him, calling him a “Brazilian Animal”. Video shows Werdum knock Covingtons phone out of his hand before being impeded by a few guys. They continued to shout at each other before Werdum threw a “Boomerang” - yes, seriously, he threw a Boomerang - at Covington’s head and connected Alpha bro Colby appeared flustered, scurrying away from Werdum before picking up his phone and beginning to stream live to Instagram. He began hurling insults at Werdum as he back away protected by a line of other men, classic tough guy move. He even called Werdum old, hell of a quick wit on this guy. My personal favorite part was when he pressed charges on Werdum and likened the incident to Adolf Hitler, fascism and some made up war on free speech during an interview with Ariel Helwani on “The MMA Hour”. Amazing how quick the tough talking badass gets sensitive and outraged when actually confronted for the

endless bullshit he spouts. You reap what you sow.

The course of events following his post fight comments in Brazil lead me rather quickly from “This is entertaining” to “This guy is a fucking douchebag”. His attempts at being meaner and louder than MMA fighters before him is an annoying by product of the modern UFC and our culture as a whole. His continued insults on an entire nation are tiresome, in poor taste and speak to a lack of creativity and mental capacity. His attempts to wrap himself in the protective blanket of free speech and American freedom when someone bigger than him finally confronted him is gross, disrespectful and most of all shows Covington as he what he truly seems to be; an absolute punk.

Twitter: @Morgan_Slade1