UFC's Alex Garcia wants to fight Colby Covington after botched fight booking

UFC welterweight Alex Garcia was supposed to fight Colby Covington this past June at UFC Fight Night 89. Ten days before the event, he told MMAjunkie Radio, he injured himself.

“I hurt myself, and I had to pull out of the fight,” Garcia (14-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) said.

It was a fight that paired two up-and-comers looking for redemption; both had lost in previous bouts. Covington (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) thought something shady was up. On Twitter, he implied 29-year-old Garcia was taking the easy way out.

“I honor the contracts I sign,” he tweeted. “Fought with torn cartilage and fracture in rib my last fight and broken foot (in my second) UFC fight.”

One day after the news broke, Covington implied Garcia had run afoul of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the UFC drug-testing partner.

“Usada saved him an ass beating,” he wrote.

Garcia hasn’t forgotten those messages. After knocking out veteran Mike Pyle in his previous bout, he wants the UFC to rebook the fight with Covington.

“He made some comments on Twitter, and I didn’t like him since that day,” Garcia said. “I want to shut his mouth a little bit. Either now, or in the future, or whatever he wants. I want to shut his mouth.”

Covington’s willingness to speak up has been on display since he signed with the UFC in 2014 as a wrestling-savvy prospect. An American Top Team product, he’s made a name for himself while winning six fights with a lone setback to Warlley Alves at UFC 194.

Garcia, meanwhile, has seesawed. Bouncing between wins and losses in his past five octagon bouts, the Tristar Team fighter has alternately looked promising and lackluster.

Garcia said he’s feeling more comfortable in the octagon these days, and so fans will be seeing more of his true talent in the cage. The knockout of Pyle was certainly promising. But a win over Covington might go a long way toward revitalizing his image as a future title prospect.

“I’m more comfortable being in the UFC and more relaxed,” Garcia said. “I want to be in the top 10 or 15, but if I don’t adjust my skills, I won’t get there. I want to reach that goal first, and then give myself more goals.”

The immediate goal, though, is to get a little payback.

“I don’t like that dude,” Garcia said of Covington. “He talks too much. It’s a little personal.”

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

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.