Trash-talking American Colby Covington has become one of the most polarising figures in combat sports – regardless of which side you're on, when he's in the ring, you want to see someone get knocked out.<\/p>\n
This weekend he'll finally get a chance at redemption against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who won their first fight via a brutal fifth-round knockout back in 2019.<\/p>\n
"I'm light years ahead of where I was," Covington told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n
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"I had a lot of bad coaches who weren't able to get the best out of me, now I've sought out new coaches and a new gym and all the focus is on me."<\/p>\n
He praised the work of his new team – Cesar Carneiro, Daniel Lopez and Daniel Valverde – for turning him into 'Colby 2.0'.<\/p>\n
"You're definitely going to see a more well-rounded fight set. I'm going to push him to deeper waters and the more he has to wrestle, the more tired he'll get and then I'll break him."<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Storm declaration as Munster rehab exit looms<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Heart-warming news after young gun's cancer battle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Whatever your opinions on Covington, he's certainly not boring – and he's not fussed on who he upsets. He derisively refers to fellow welterweight Khamzat Chimaev as 'cumshot', and called Brazilian fighter Fabricio Werdum – who threw a boomerang at Covington during a trip to Australia<\/a> – 'the ultimate feelings champion'.<\/p>\n "That time was a good learning point for me to keep my head on a swivel and be aware of my surroundings. All of these fighters have feelings, I don't. I go in motionless, feelingless to handle my business. But apparently Fabricio Verdum is the ultimate feeling champion, he's no Ultimate Fighting Champion," Covington said.<\/p>\n One thing he's right on is that without him, the sport would be more dull.<\/p>\n "[Usman] isn't going to crack jokes and give the people their money's worth," he said.<\/p>\n "Someone's got to bring the entertainment to Madison Square Garden – and that's why they call me the people's champ."<\/p>\n This isn't a fake rivalry promoted to sell a fight – these two genuinely hate each other. Usman has spoke at length about how good he felt breaking Covington's jaw when they fought the first time, and the challenger has continued to allege that the champion is a drug cheat, calling him 'Marty Juiceman' and 'The CEO of EPO'.<\/p>\n "It's going to be so good saying it to his face," Covington said.<\/p>\n "I know how bad he avoided this fight. He tried to get out of fighting me at all costs."<\/p>\n Covington said Usman's hand was forced by the top brass of the UFC.<\/p>\n "I know how afraid he is – I can't wait to see him face-to-face.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Hurt' Cooper explains why he ditched the Wallabies<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/10\/389817\/raw-capture-sequence.00_05_24_20.still275.jpg\")
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