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UFC 272 was a satisfying night for Colby Covington as he picked up a unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal. His takedowns and ground control sealed the victory for him and got him back in the win column.
'Chaos' has already challenged reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman twice and has come up short. Despite those losses to the champion, he's still capable of earning a third fight with 'The Nigerian Nightmare'.
His path to another title shot may require getting a couple more wins. However, a trilogy with Usman or a title shot against Leon Edwards in the unlikely event of the Englishman beating the reigning champ shouldn't be ruled out. This list will look at five possible opponents for Colby Covington after UFC 272.
#5. No.4-ranked UFC welterweight Vicente Luque
If Colby Covington wants to remain in title contention, a bout with No.4-ranked UFC welterweight Vicente Luque would do just that. The Brazilian has ascended the welterweight rankings after impressive performances in the past two years.
'The Silent Assassin' is riding a four-fight win streak that includes wins over Michael Chiesa and former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. What makes the run even more impressive is that he has earned a post-fight bonus in his last three bouts.
Luque is currently scheduled to fight No.5-ranked Belal Muhammad next month at UFC Fight Night 206. The bout is a rematch of their 2016 encounter, which saw Luque make quick work of Muhammad. He caught him early in the first round with a left hand and finished the fight in just 79 seconds. If he wins the rematch, the timing for a fight with Covington would work well because of their bouts being just one month apart.
#4. Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker
Based on the title picture at middleweight and welterweight, perhaps the UFC could go in a different direction. Colby Covington and Robert Whittaker are essentially in the same situation in their respective weight classes.
Both fighters have had two title losses to the champions of their division but weren't completely outclassed in their bouts. They both also need strong performances to make a compelling argument for a trilogy bout. 'Chaos' recently challenged Israel Adesanya for the middleweight championship. And so, a win over a former champion would prove he's worthy of a title shot at 185lbs.
'Bobby Knuckles' is scheduled to compete against Marvin Vettori in June. Depending on what transpires, Covington vs. Whittaker could be a massive fight for the promotion's annual event at Madison Square Garden.
#3. Former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns
For years, Covington vs. Gilbert Burns seemed inevitable, but the UFC surprisingly has yet to book a fight. Burns is coming off a dominant unanimous decision win over Stephen Thompson.
Prior to the bout with 'Wonderboy', he fought Kamaru Usman for the welterweight championship but came up short. He dropped Usman in the first round, however 'The Nigerian Nightmare' regrouped and ended up finishing him with strikes.
'Durinho' is scheduled to fight rising contender Khamzat Chimeav next month. If he's victorious, a title-eliminator against 'Chaos' would be logical as one of the headliners for International Fight Week.
Burns has called out the former interim welterweight champion in the past and recently shared his thoughts on his bout with Masvidal. The idea of the bout being a title eliminator could be what convinces Covington to accept the fight.
"I don't think he has that crazy cardio king but he has good cardio. Not a lot of damage, not efficient ground and pound, he didn't even cut the guy. He just wrestles. A good performance." - Gilbert Burns to Helen Yee Sports
#2. No.11-ranked UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev has quickly become a fan favorite in the UFC. The No.11-ranked welterweight is confident that he's superior to the rest of the division. What makes him unique is that he's bounced back and forth between middleweight and welterweight and still won with ease.
'Borz' has now committed himself to the welterweight division and could be on the fast track to a title shot. He will have an incredible opportunity next month when he fights former title challenger Gilbert Burns. If he wins, it wouldn't be a surprise if he receives the next title shot. Many wonder how he'll fare against the top-10 in the division, and fans will finally get their answer.
Chimaev has an unbeaten 10-0 MMA record and is yet to fight past the second round. Chimaev vs. Covington would be an intriguing bout because of their cardio and wrestling. It would be interesting to see who would get the upper hand in the scrambles.
#1. Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier
Covington let it be known that he wants to fight former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier at 170lbs next. To say there's bad blood between 'Chaos' and American Top Team would be an understatement.
'The Diamond' has been open to moving up to 170lbs since his second title loss. However, the opponent he considered moving up for was Nate Diaz, who he's been linked to in the past. In the event that the bout doesn't take place, perhaps he would be open to a bout with the former interim welterweight champion.
Covington made things personal with his post-fight interview this past weekend. If the promotion ends up booking the fight, it could become a more heated leadup than the one he had with Masvidal. 'Chaos' continuing his rivalry with ATT could gain a lot more interest than if he fought the next best welterweight contender.
