UFC fighter Covington said Makhachev will not move up to welterweight

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Colby Covington said that Russia’s Islam Makhachev will not move up to welterweight despite wanting to fight the winner of the Covington-Leon Edwards fight, MMA Junkie reports. “He says this to make headlines.

He loves to talk and cause a stir, but will never decide to change. Like Khabib, he did the same. “In America, they can do it at any good grappling gym,” Covington said. On October 22, 2022, Makhachev faced Charles Oliveira in a lightweight title fight at the UFC 280 tournament in Abu Dhabi. The Russian fighter won with a second-round performance. Makhachev and Oliveira will face each other in their return match at UFC 294 on October 21.

Oliveira had his last fight in June this year against Hungarian representative Beneil Dariush. The Brazilian fighter won. In total, he has had 44 fights in the UFC, 34 of which ended in his victory.