Before UFC-Sao Paulo, co-headliner Colby Covington has plenty of 1-liners left

SAO PAULO – Love him or hate him, one thing is for sure: Colby Covington is right at home whenever a mic is placed in front of him.

Speaking to MMAjunkie three days ahead of his UFC Fight Night 119 encounter with Demian Maia (25-7 MMA, 19-7 UFC), Covington (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) presented us with yet another show – complete with snappy one-liners, a strong opener and elaborate insults.

From “dad bod” Demian Maia to the “animals” in the “dump” that is the city of Sao Paulo, no one escaped Covington’s fight-hype tactics. In fact, as he explained just why he’s taken it upon himself to play the heel ahead of Saturday’s FS1-televised co-main event at Ibirapuera Gymnasium, not even the night’s headliners got a break.

“Someone’s got to sell this fight,” Covington told MMAjunkie. “No one’s selling a fight on this card. We’re the real main event. (Lyoto) Machida and (Derek) Brunson, they are not selling the fight. I’m making sure the fans are engaged and they’re drawing emotion. They want to see the fight.

“This is the Colby Covington show now. Everybody wants to show up, they want to see me get beat. So good luck – you better get your popcorn ready because I ain’t getting beat for a long time.”

Covington, however, did get serious at times, and talked about the long hours he’s been putting in at the gym and the big help that friend Jorge Masvidal, a fellow UFC welterweight who recently lost a split decision to Maia, had in his camp and career.

Of course, Covington wouldn’t waste an opportunity to take aim at champ Tyron Woodley. While he’s aware UFC president Dana White already has other plans for title contention, Covington believes a statement win over Maia on Saturday should be enough to “scare Tyron Woodley into preemptive surgeries.”

But if for some reason having his stab at the division’s titleholder means waiting around? Well, Covington offers an alternative plan.

“I’m not going to sit on the sidelines,” Covington said. “I’m not that fighter that’s going to wait out like a diva. I’m going to get an interim belt and then I’ll (expletive)slap Woodley with the interim belt.”

We’d say more, but when it comes to Covington, the written word doesn’t seem to quite cut it. Check him out in the video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 119, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.