Colby Covington thinks the UFC should pass on signing Usman Nurmagomedov.
PFL lightweight champion Nurmagomedov can't seem to get out of trouble as he tests free agency for a potential UFC signing. Nurmagomedov was criticized for his emotional reaction to his brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, getting knocked out by Song Yadong at UFC Shanghai, where he jumped the cage in a frenzy to check on him.
Now, Nurmagomedov finds himself serving six months in Abu Dhabi prison and a 300,000 AED fine for slapping Merab Dvalishvili and causing a brawl to ensue at the RAF host hotel.
"This behavior from Usman Nurmagomedov should disqualify him from ever being a UFC athlete," Covington said in an interview with BC.Game. "I mean, why does he deserve to be in the UFC?
He almost cheap-shotted Song Yadong when Song's just celebrating a big win. He jumps in the cage, tries to elbow him, and then now he does this. Usman has shown he's not professional. He can't control his emotions. Us as UFC fighters are held to a higher standard. He needs to take responsibility for his actions, and he shouldn't be allowed in the UFC. That's what I think.
"I don't care what his record is fighting bums. He doesn't belong in the UFC. I hope he's never able to fight in the UFC. I hope he's never able to come to America because that's delinquent behavior. It's despicable. Merab needs to get back to America ASAP, and more importantly, he needs to get back on that RAF mat ASAP. He shouldn't be held back from doing what he loves, competing and getting to wrestle this weekend and shine, just because some thug in Usman Nurmagomedov attacked him in the hotel."
Covington has been respectful towards welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, and even defended him for opting not to compete at UFC 336. However, he's not fond of him taking Nurmagomedov's side.
"Everybody’s asking me what I think of Islam Makhachev's thoughts on this situation, and on one side of it, I believe you should stick up for your family," Covington said. "That's your brother. That's your training partner that you've grown up your whole life with. So I understand you looking out for him. But on the other side of the coin, you need to be able to hold your family accountable for their actions. I'm not saying to condemn them, but you shouldn't have come out and given a speech or a comment at all, because he's definitely in the wrong.
"You're a professional athlete. You get paid a lot of money to do what you do. Handle your business in the cage. So I just don't believe that Islam should have been defending Usman in this situation. I think that he should be condemning him, holding his friend to a higher standard and giving him the help he needs, because obviously he's shown from his past situations that he can't keep his cool. He can't cool his emotions, and he's a little thug. I know what type of person Merab is. He's a nice person. He's a humble person, and I want to see him back in America. I want to see him back competing, doing what he loves best."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Colby Covington: Usman Nurmagomedov 'shouldn't be allowed in the UFC' after brawl
