Colby Covington Inspired By First Family Visit, Post-Fight Call from President Trump

Colby Covington may be a terrific fighter, but he is unquestionably among the most polarizing figures on the UFC’s roster.

Covington (15-1) was brilliant against former UFC and Strikeforce welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC on ESPN 5 on Saturday, earning a lopsided unanimous decision win. He battered “Ruthless” Robbie for five rounds and set records for strikes attempted (533) and significant strikes attempted (510). In the end, Covington walked away the victor via tallies of 50-45 across the board.

Aside from a growing beef between the two combatants leading up to their battle, Covington said he gained even more inspiration before he entered the Octagon when members of President Donald Trump’s family appeared backstage to lend support to him. Donald Trump Jr. and brother Eric Trump met with Covington before the fight and the president tweeted encouraging words to Covington.

Fight hard tonight Colby. You are a real Champ! #MAGA https://t.co/dj3JlWQu7i

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2019

“I was truly inspired when the first family came backstage to see me before the fight,” he said. “I also want to thank the troops. Without the troops none of this would be possible. They sacrifice their lives for our freedom. I couldn’t do this without them.”

Covington also received a congratulatory call from President Trump after the bout.

“He just appreciates how much I do and the hard-working American,” Covington said of Trump. “I haven’t been given anything. I’ve had to work and earn everything I have. “This [fight] was a landslide, just like it’s going to be a landslide in 2020.”

Covington backed up his talk by beating Lawler convincingly. From there, however, all gears shifted toward current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who was on hand doing commentary for the event.

“Marty Usman, I don’t need to wait until Madison Square Garden,” he declared. “We can do it tonight. Where you at?”

Covington then appeared with Usman on the ESPN post-fight show, and with security in full force to prevent all hell from breaking loose, the two exchanged heated verbal barbs, which was all caught on camera. Afterward, Covington would stop and claimed that Usman is ducking him.

“Security held ‘Marty Fakenewsman’ back, so looks like he’s probably going to be out for another year with an injury,” he said. “He’s faking injuries, faking narratives. He doesn’t want to fight me. He saw what I did to a man tonight in Robbie Lawler. Kamaru Usman is nothing but a [expletive].”