Colby Covington Responds to Islam Makhachev: Dagestanis Talk a Big Game

Colby Covington would be more than happy to take on reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight ace Islam Makhachev in a potential welterweight title bout.

In a recent interview with ESPN MMA's Brett Okamoto, Makhachev shared that while he isn't overlooking his next opponent, he'd like the opportunity to fight for the welterweight strap if he again conquers Charles Oliveira in their rematch at Oct. 21’s UFC 294 pay-per-view.

The Dagestan native believes he's earned the right to challenge for a belt in another division, especially since he afforded UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski the same opportunity at UFC 284.

Moreover, Makhachev expressed his support for Covington as the American gears up to take on Edwards for the title at UFC 296. The 31-year-old believes a matchup with "Chaos" would be a great test of USA wrestling vs. Dagestani wrestling.

Responding to the reigning lightweight champion's comments, Covington recently chimed in with Submission Radio:

“I think it'd be the biggest and best spectacle the UFC can put on and that's what we want to do... The guy definitely walks around at more weight than I do. I just choose to fight closer to my natural weight. I don't want to cut all that weight to get the advantage. I'd like to see him come up and test himself. Him and the Dagestanis, they've been talking a big game. Him and Khabib, for years they were going to come up, test themselves, go to a different weight class... Come fight at your natural weight. Let's test yourself, you know, he's talking a big game, he wants to be No.1 pound-for-pound? This is how you prove that. Come up here, let's see if you're pound-for-pound No.1 by fighting a guy at your natural weight.”