Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington verbally spar at UFC presser, despite not being opponents

Top-tier UFC welterweights Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman aren’t scheduled to fight each other any time soon, but that didn’t stop them from going a few rounds at Friday’s UFC 25th anniversary press conference in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Covington (13-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) immediately fired back when Usman (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) weighed in on his upcoming interim title shot against Rafael dos Anjos (28-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC), which was moved from UFC 224 to UFC 225 in June.

“He doesn’t deserve a title shot,” Usman said. “Besides Demian Maia, who else (has he beat)? Nobody. And when I ask to fight him, he doesn’t want to fight me.”

“Keep using your time to promote me,” Covington replied. “That’s why you’re a mark, (expletive).”

That insult touched off a flurry of bickering that might have stood out more had it not come amid the most tumultuous period in the UFC’s promotional history.

Amid all the grudges highlighted at the press conference, and the crazy roller coaster that’s been the buildup to Saturday’s UFC 223, it was just another highlight clip to store when Covington and Usman actually fight.

When that happens is anyone’s guess.

For now, though, it’s all talk. Covington is getting his title shot, and Usman faces Santiago Ponzinibbio (26-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 129 in May.

To Covington, there’s a reason he’s not yet locked horns with his frequent antagonist. Ever the dutiful heel, he attacked Usman’s star power.

“You ain’t ready for primetime yet, son! That’s why you’re on digital cable, boy! I’m on pay-per-view! Sit your ass down, junior,” Covington said.

But for Usman, all the trash talk and tweeting belies a bigger truth – that Covington isn’t really willing to fight him.

“You weren’t talking all this trash backstage just now, were you?” Usman said. “You act real tough in front of the media.

“Everybody knows you’re fake. If there’s beef, we can do it. … You know you’re not about that life. You know that. If you were about that life, you would have hollered at me backstage just now. You not about that life. Talk tough up here, but you know I will finish you.”

“You just got dropped by a nobody in your last fight,” Covington shot back. “He’s not even ranked, and he dropped your ass. You had to wrestle-hump and (expletive) bore all these fans. That’s why you’re not on pay-per-view yet.”

“But I beat the (expletive) out of the guy that nearly took your life in the first round,” Usman replied, referring to mutual opponent Warlley Alves, who submitted Covington in the first round and dropped a decision to Usman. “You see that kind of tap that he did. That was a tap for dear life, because he was about to die in there.”

Undeterred, Covington ended the exchange with a dig aimed at Usman’s pride.

“You wish you had what I had, boy,” Covington said. “I’ve got zeros next to my bank account. You ain’t got nothing. You’re still fighting on prelims.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.