UFC Fighter Stands by his Controversial Statements
Colby Covington, a prominent UFC fighter, recently voiced his support for freedom of speech within the organization. In a recent interview, Covington emphasized the importance of facts over feelings and expressed his gratitude towards UFC president Dana White for allowing fighters to express their opinions without censorship.
Embracing Freedom of Speech
According to Covington, he values the UFC because it does not restrict fighters from speaking their minds. He contrasted this with professional basketball, where players are monitored and face consequences for making controversial statements.
“I’m a big [person] that lives within facts over feelings,” Covington stated. “So, anytime I say something, if there’s truth to it and it hurts someone’s feelings, it is what it is. This is America. We’re entitled to our own speech.”
He praised Dana White for championing freedom of speech and allowing fighters to express themselves openly. Covington believes that this freedom sets the UFC apart from other sports organizations.
Respecting Differing Opinions
Covington acknowledged that not everyone in the UFC shares his views, but he emphasized the importance of respecting differing opinions. While he may not agree with certain statements made by his colleagues, he believes that they should still have the right to express themselves.
“There’s a lot of people in the UFC that say something I don’t like, but I still respect their opinions and they’re still allowed to say them,” Covington explained. “It doesn’t mean they’re true. Facts over feelings for me all day.”
Focus on the Fight
Covington also addressed a recent feud with another fighter, Edwards. He stated that he would no longer discuss the matter, as the ultimate goal of the UFC is to engage in combat, not to worry about words exchanged outside the cage.
“This is the fight business, we’re not going getting locked in the cage to play patty-cake and to worry about some words and feelings we said to each other,” Covington asserted. “We’re getting in there to kill each other. This is war and there’s no rules in war.”
Unfortunately, Covington faced defeat in his fight against Edwards, losing via unanimous decision. However, his unwavering support for freedom of speech remains an important topic of discussion within the UFC community.