Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 16
Covington Calls Poirier 'Deadbeat Father' Before RAF 11 Fight as McGregor Eyes 1 More UFC Bout
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 16

Covington Calls Poirier 'Deadbeat Father' Before RAF 11 Fight as McGregor Eyes 1 More UFC Bout

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 16

Summary

  • Saturday's RAF 11 main-event fighter Colby Covington escalated his feud with Dustin Poirier, calling his former American Top Team teammate a "deadbeat father" in an MMAFighting.com interview.
  • Covington said Poirier's criticism of Conor McGregor after McGregor's injury TKO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 showed his "true character," and he again pointed to Poirier's Father's Day arrest at Atlanta airport.
  • One fight remains on McGregor's UFC contract, and Covington said he expects the Irish star to return because competing gives him structure after another in-fight injury.
  • The remarks extend Covington's earlier defense of McGregor and keep attention on the fallout from UFC 329 as Covington shifts from the UFC to wrestling after retiring in May.

Insights

Covington attacked Poirier's addiction after his McGregor comments. In the UFC's trash-talk culture, are there any lines that shouldn't be crossed?
With stars like McGregor and Poirier facing deep personal crises, is the UFC responsible for the mental toll fighting takes on its athletes?
Has Conor McGregor's brand value finally surpassed his fighting ability, making his personal drama the real main event for the UFC?