5 reasons why Colby Covington should drop his 'heel' persona

#4. Colby Covington could affect his future training endeavors

With a personality as brash as Colby Covington's, it's no surprise the former title challenger has struggled to get along with others. Many of his friends have now soured into adversaries like Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier. However, during his time as a UFC star, he has also rubbed elbows with some big names.

Nevertheless, Colby Covington has moved full-steam ahead with his UFC career. In May 2020, he officially parted ways with Dan Lambert and American Top Team after a long tenure.

It's important to note that Colby Covington has already competed under the umbrella of his new team. The former 170-pound interim champion last stepped into the cage against Tyron Woodley. The Oregon native showcased his elite wrestling style and nullified 'The Chosen One'. In the fifth round, Covington would secure a finish after Woodley suffered a rib injury.

While Dan Lambert and Colby Covington are on good terms, Covington thought it was best to leave and began scouting for training partners and coaches. Athletes from all over the country have condemned his demeanor outside of the octagon. Due to this, it seems likely that Colby Covington will struggle to find places to train in the future.

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#3. Elite talent will be more inclined to fight Colby Covington if he drops his 'heel' persona

The expression, 'you can catch more flies with honey' easily applies to Colby Covington. Covington's dramatized persona has led to some heated moments and, as a result, friendships and alliances have dissolved. In addition, the former interim champion has started fights with fighters from his own weight class all the way up to heavyweight.

During a UFC-related visit to Australia, Colby Covington and Fabricio Werdum got into an altercation. After a disagreement took place, the former heavyweight champion threw a boomerang at Colby Covington's face. The former title challenger dodged the projectile and filed a complaint about the attack to the Sydney, Australian police department.

Colby Covington's 'heel persona' was also brought to a head after he made disparaging remarks about Brazilians and the nation of Brazil. In particular, Covington called the country "a dump" and referred to its citizens as "filty animals." Covington's remarks were made after his bloody decision victory over Demian Maia in 2017.

In an interview with ESPN, Colby Covington revealed his belief that the UFC struggled to get Kamaru Usman to sign for the Nov. 6 rematch.

In the lead-up to his second fight with Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington has often claimed that the rematch proved difficult to book. The former interim champion maintains that the problems were not from his end. Ahead of the second fight, Covington appears calm, dialed in, and less focused on the persona he's been keeping up outside the cage.