That win was a monumental one for Covington, as UFC President Dana White says he is next in line for a shot at UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
“That’s why I put Covington on ESPN against a guy like Lawler,” White said when the topic of Covington getting a title shot was brought up during a media scrum at the most recent edition of the Contender Series (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “You can say whatever you want about Covington, you don’t like him, you don’t this, that, or whatever — he put on a clinic against Lawler, who is a beast. Lawler’s been in all the big fights, former world champion, hits like a truck and Colby completely shut him down. His cardio was impressive and the way that he beat Lawler was even more impressive.”
Covington and Usman have been rivals for quite some time now, with security recently being involved in their face to face at the UFC Newark post-fight show.
White had promised Covington a title shot in the past, but instead stripped him of the interim welterweight title. Covington had said that he wanted White's promise in writing, but a public statement is all the fighter has at the moment.
