UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington said that Khamzat Chimaev moved to the middleweight division to avoid fighting him.
They were looking at setting up that fight with that mother******, Khamzat Chimaev but he's unprofessional. He's a clown. He was afraid, plain and simple. So he ran away from me to middleweight.
Colby Covington
Recall that Covington will face the promotion's welterweight champion Leon Edwards on December 17 at UFC 296.
Covington, 35, last stepped into the octagon in March 2022 at UFC 272, defeating Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision. He has 17 wins and three losses on his record.
Edwards, 32, last fought in March 2023 at UFC 286, defeating Kamaru Usman by majority decision. He has 21 wins and three losses on his record.