Chael Sonnen: Israel Adesanya needs an opponent to 'meet him halfway.' Colby Covington is that guy.

[Karl_Hungus]

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022...-meet-him-halfway-colby-covington-is-that-guy

Chael Sonnen thinks Colby Covington deserves another UFC title shot – whether it’s at welterweight or middleweight.

Covington cemented his No. 1 welterweight ranking by dominating rival Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272, but with champion Kamaru Usman already holding two recent wins over him, it could be a while before Covington gets a third crack.

Sonnen, who has served as a mentor for Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) over the years, said Covington’s win over Masvidal should amount to something meaningful.

Chael Sonnen says that Colby Covington should go up to 185, and get a title shot. His reasoning is that Colby is a number one contender with a lot of buzz, and who also performs, so he should be fighting in big fights, basically. Chael also says that he has known Colby since he was 11, and he thinks highly of him.

“I’m so proud of that guy,” Sonnen said in an interview with Helen Yee. “He gives the fans what they tuned in for from pillar to post. He never stops until they fade to black and roll the credits. Guys have got done fighting and wanted to hug it out and be friends and Colby, ‘That’s not what I sold you tickets on.’ And Colby stays in it. He’s a great guy, Colby’s never in trouble out of the octagon, he grew up (up) the road from my house, I’ve known him since he was 11 years old, the guy’s never been in trouble.

“He’s a consummate professional. He’s chasing his dream. He just got one step closer. He just took the ‘BMF’ champion and beat him up for 25 minutes. That has to mean something to somebody. I don’t understand how he can be the only No. 1 contender in the sport, he’s recognized as the No. 1 contender, he’s ranked No. 1, and he doesn’t get to cash that ticket and fight for the belt.”

With Usman projected to face Leon Edwards next and UFC president Dana White declaring Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev a No. 1 contender fight, Sonnen thinks Covington moving up to middleweight to challenge champion Israel Adesanya makes perfect sense, an idea that Covington recently floated.

Chael elucidates his reasoning further by stating that Izzy is a big star who also is an imposing presence in the Octagon. He says that Izzy needs to fight someone who can "meet him halfway" and "do some business."

Both White and Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) laughed off the idea, but Sonnen thinks Adesanya needs to fight someone who can talk the talk and walk the walk just like him, and that man is Covington.

“Colby made a suggestion: ‘I’m gonna take that golden ticket, (and) I’m gonna go to 185 pounds.’ I think he should be allowed to do it,” Sonnen said. “You cannot be a No. 1 contender and not get a title shot. It’s not right.”

He continued, “I want to see Colby Covington fighting Izzy Adesanya, and quite frankly Izzy Adesanya needs somebody that’s gonna meet him halfway. I think that Adesanya is also a master. I think he’s a master entertainer on the way to the ring. What he does and before he leaves the microphone behind. He needs somebody that can match him. Robert Whittaker left him hanging, didn’t want to meet him half way. (Jared) Cannonier is not gonna meet him halfway. (Adesanya and Covington) need each other right now. They can form a partnership, and they can go do some business.”

What say you, Sherdog? Should Colby step up to 185 and challenge Izzy? Apparently, Colby has talked about this before, so he is on board, but Dana didn't like the idea. Do you?

 

[chiefwiggum]

Israel will stop Colby. He’s slow has no power and really has no good wins. You can count rda. Maia boxed him up but he hurt Maia in the 14th minute.

his best moments were losing to the champ and not fighting anybody

 

[DS66]

Colby would be absolutely tiny at MW. He's way, way undersized for the division.

He's a great fighter and his pace is a problem for anyone, but I can't see him being a real threat to Izzy at 185. He'd get absolutely pieced up on the feet and I don't see him being able to consistently close the distance and get Izzy down, and if he does get him down he probably isn't holding him down for any period of time.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

I'm all for it lol.

 

[mjfan23]

Good call. Izzy can finally get a beautiful finish again

 

[WildShrimper]

Chael always with the dumb takes, Colby isn't even a big WW. He looked like Frankie Edgar vs Usman

 

[TempleoftheDog]

Colby won’t fight contenders at 170. Like he’d fight at 185? I just don’t see it.

 

[VinceArch]

Chael must have a grudge with Colby.

 

[Reign009]

Colby is a guy that can fight at 155.

Chael is running out of material.

 

[Ornife]

Incredible.

 

[chiefwiggum]

Colby is a guy that can fight at 155.

Chael is running out of material.

if he wants to take away all his advantages and be a good wrestler with no ways to finish a fight and his main weapon cardio is gone.

170 is good for him. Usman is just a huge guy. Colby was bigger than jirge. Bigger than rda bugger than Maia.

what’s his other good win? Old woodley? They’re the same size.

 

[Last Falconry]

Colby wouldn't take that fight in a million years. Izzy has never even fought at featherweight

 

[StoneColdSteveAustin]

IA would crush Covington

 

[NationWideNinja]

Chael always has to be a contrarian or have some kind of wacky idea, it gets old very quickly.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Not interest in it, he is a WW and not even a big one at that, he also has finished 1 guy 7 years lol, which is Woodley with a hurting rib verbal submission in the 5th round

I think Sonnen just says random things and hopes something will stick, makes up many stories too that are totally madeup on the spot.

 

[Argonaut]

I think Colby could drop to LW and see some good success.

6'4 - 80" reach Adasanya would stomp 5'11-72" reach Colby.

Colby is a less lethal Brunson and Vettori.
I don't mind watching his fights because he's highly skilled but I would be much more interested in him going to LW where he would have a very good shot at being champ.

 

[kingmob6]

Colby needs to go down to 155, get one #1 contender fight and try to get the belt there. While Usman is around, it's going to take serious time to get back in there.
But he won't, cause he is looking for easy fights.

 

[koquerelle]

Chael sucks. It's impossible to take him seriously. Colby would get destroyed.

 

[pankrat]

Former WWs Gastelum and Tilll would be favourites vs Colby at 185.
Israel and Bobby would be favoured to end it inside 3 rounds.
Maybe give him a decent chance vs Till, although weight would be a big factor imo

 

[RockyLockridge]

lmao colby dies, but maybe they could sell that fight? I dunno.

I'd watch it, but MW has contenders for izzy to fight, theres muniz, strickland, Cannonier... he's not in desperate need for fights, and i dont think colby really deserves that opportunity....

lets say izzy finishes cannonier in devastating fashion, maybe they'll make it as a money fight?