Warning: Story contains coarse language
Colby Covington says he was in talks to face Tyron Woodley in a UFC main event Aug. 22, but the fight fell apart after the latter apparently refused to sign on the dotted line.
"We both gave our confirmations and our commitments last week to the UFC brass," Covington told theScore. "We said, 'Hey, we're gonna fight each other, main event on Aug. 22, live on ESPN.' We got the contracts, and I signed my contract, and then all of a sudden, (Woodley) didn't want to sign the contract when he already gave his word to the UFC.
"We know Tyron Woodley's not a man of his word, he's just a b----. I gave my word, I gave my signature, and I was ready to go. And then I found out yesterday that Tyron's trying to pull a fast one, he's trying to pull out, just like his daddy should've. He backed out."
Earlier this week, Covington posted on Instagram a picture of a bout agreement that lists Woodley as his opponent for Aug. 22. UFC president Dana White confirmed Friday that Covington signed on for the fight and that the promotion is "waiting on Woodley," according to TheMacLife.
Former UFC welterweight champion Woodley told ESPN's Ariel Helwani on Thursday that he's willing to fight Covington, but not until September or October.
"My answer to whether I would fight Colby is eternally yes," Woodley wrote in a text message. "At 96 years old in a nursing home it's yes! He said no six times and now creates a date that works for him? F--- out of here."
Woodley and Covington's bad blood dates back a few years. They've been in talks to fight several times - including in 2018 when Woodley still held the belt, and as recently as earlier this year - but it's never come to fruition for various reasons.
At this point, Covington isn't confident that the clash will ever happen.
"He said maybe he'll be ready in September, October, but what's maybe?" Covington asked. "Nobody knows what maybes are anymore.
"I hope it happens," the former interim champ continued. "I've been saying for years I'm gonna be the one to retire Tyron Woodley. I hope it happens, because I will be the one to viciously KO him and retire him. But I don't know if it will. It will be a matter of if he signs the contract, because I've already signed the contract."
