Cejudo Blasts Covington After 43-Second Grappling Loss

Colby Covington tapped to a rear-naked choke in 43 seconds against bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. at a Hype Fighting grappling event in Italy this week, and two of his biggest critics are making sure he hears about it.

Henry Cejudo tore into Covington on the Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman, per MMA Fighting, questioning how the former interim welterweight champion expects to handle middleweight standout Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi next Saturday after getting doubled and choked by a fighter who competes 35 pounds lighter. Rosas caught Covington's back off an early takedown and forced the tap before the match reached a minute.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to RAF Abu Dhabi on Ticketmaster →

Usman Questions Covington's Intensity

Usman, who beat Covington twice in UFC title fights, said the loss is not excusable given the brand Covington has built as a wrestler. He acknowledged that submission grappling and mixed martial arts wrestling are different disciplines, but added that Covington looked unprepared for the pace Rosas brought. "You could see his face," Usman said. "He was not ready for that level of intensity right away. For a guy that's supposed to be intense, he was not ready for that level of intensity."

Cejudo said Covington is no longer the king of anything and warned that only a win over Chimaev will let fans forget the embarrassing result. He added that a rematch with Rosas would likely end the same way.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to RAF Abu Dhabi on Ticketmaster →

Covington faces Chimaev in the RAF Abu Dhabi headliner on November 15.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman roast Colby Covington for embarrassing 43-second loss: ‘He’s supposed to beat Khamzat Chimaev?‘