Colby Covington is catching some heat online.
The multiple-time welterweight title challenger hasn’t been seen in the cage since a December 2023 unanimous decision defeat to then-welterweight champion Leon Edwards, with the American reportedly on the shelf following a foot injury he sustained the early stages of the bout.
That said, Covington does appear to have been getting some work in on the mat in these past few months — including one viral clip which emerged in recent days showing ‘Chaos’ applying a rear-naked choke to the rapper Lil Pump, and choking him unconscious while apparently ignoring the musician’s attempts to tap out.
Colby Covington choked Lil Pump out cold 😳 pic.twitter.com/tCLQ1wZbo7
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 22, 2024
It goes without saying, but ignoring a training partner’s attempts to submit to a technique is a big ‘No’ in MMA gyms across the globe — and it appears to have caught the ire of numerous fight fans who took issue with Covington’s actions online.
“That’s assault,” wrote one person in response to the viral clip. “Nothing about this was cool,” said another. “That is literally attempted murder,” wrote a third.
Fighters under UFC contract are often informed by the organisation to refrain from accepting requests from fans who wish to have MMA moves applied on them as part of a photo or video clip request, reportedly due to the possible legal liabilities that may arrive afterwards.
As for Covington’s future, there is as of yet no indication as to when he may return to active competition but he was been repeatedly called out by undefeated Irish welterweight Ian Machado Garry.
