According to Colby Covington, he wasn’t even on the UFC’s radar heading into his showdown with Demian Maia in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 28, 2017.
Despite being 7-1 during his Octagon tenure up to that point, Covington wasn’t exactly a well-known commodity in the sport. As a result, it wasn’t a guarantee that the Las Vegas-based promotion would re-sign him after he fulfilled his contract against Maia.
He claims that changed following his infamous post-fight interview in Sao Paulo, where he drew the wrath of the Brazilian crowd by calling them “filthy animals” and their country a “dump.