Surprise! Covington crashes UFC 286 weigh-in, pegged as main event back up

The rumors are true! Colby “Chaos” Covington is the official backup for Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman at UFC 286.

Phrase began getting out on Thursday night that Covington is likely to be in London getting ready to weigh in simply in case any points arose and Edwards or Usman needed to bow out. The UFC did such an excellent job of preserving Colby’s standing a secret that even the 2 major occasion fighters mentioned this was the primary they have been listening to about it.

And now it’s confirmed: Covington stepped onto the scales Friday morning, weighing in at championship weight: 170 kilos on the dot with the help of the UFC modesty dice. Watch “Chaos” do the deed under:

It’s unclear why there’s been a lot secrecy surrounding Covington’s function as a backup. Usually fighters within the backup function are picked weeks out, though not too long ago there have been conditions the place two fighters have claimed to be the backup. Main as much as UFC 280’s Oliveira vs. Makhachev occasion, Beneil Dariush mentioned the UFC had dubbed him the official backup, solely for Alexander Volkanovski to take the role.

It is going to be fascinating to learn the way this Covington scenario developed, and the way lengthy the UFC has been planning this. 170 isn’t a straightforward goal for many prime stage welterweights to hit, so we’re assuming this has been within the works for some time and never a final minute scramble as a result of one of many two UFC 286 headliners is injured and may pull out (though Kamaru Usman was seen with a hand brace main into the announcement of this occasion).

Colby Covington hasn’t competed since a March 2022 win over Jorge Masvidal, which was adopted quickly after by Masvidal sucker punching him exterior a restaurant in Miami Seaside. Covington pressed charges after which disappeared out of the general public eye. The as soon as omnipresent loudmouth bought very quiet certainly, solely making his contractually obligated sponsor posts on social media.

When requested at press conferences, UFC president Dana White has mentioned Covington was able to struggle and simply ready for one thing to come back collectively. It doesn’t seem to be he’ll be wanted after Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards each made weight and are wanting good. However White wasn’t mendacity: the No. 2 ranked welterweight is wanting very able to struggle.