Chael Sonnen sheds light into backstage conversation between Colby Covington and Hulk Hogan at UFC Tampa: “I wanted you”

The UFC veteran Chael Sonnen recently touched on the backstage conversation between Colby Covington and Hulk Hogan before their walkout at UFC Tampa. He noted that the WWE legend was well-received in the locker room. Having cornered 'Chaos', the former middleweight title challenger disclosed how his walkout came about.

Covington has referenced pro wrestling with his walkouts in the past. He famously used former Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle's WWE entrance music and crowd engagement for his previous UFC walkouts. With UFC Tampa taking place in Hogan's hometown, Covington switched it up by using his famous 'Real American' entrance song and having the pro wrestling icon walk out with the American flag.

During the latest episode of ESPN MMA's Good Guy / Bad Guy, 'The American Gangster' disclosed that 'Chaos' and the WWE Hall Famer had never met, which made it surprising as he thought that's why he agreed to walk him out. Sonnen claimed Hogan insisted on Covington being the focal point of the walkout and noted that he was a well-received guest among the fighters and UFC staff. He said:

"It was a cool thing, it was Hulk Hogan... Very first thing Colby [Covington] says to him, 'When the camera hits, Hulk, I wanted you with the American flag...I come out behind you'. And Hulk cut him off and said, 'Colby, too far. I am a guest in your house. You go first, I'm at your back... I won't have it any other way.' And that was his attitude right from the beginning and he was more than welcome in that locker room."

Check out the full episode featuring Chael Sonnen's comments below (Quotes from 1:50):

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Chael Sonnen discloses how Hulk Hogan got involved in Colby Covington's walkout at UFC Tampa

Besides shedding light on the conversation between Colby Covington and Hulk Hogan backstage at UFC Tampa. 'The American Gangster' explained how the former WWE champion got involved in the main event walkout.

During the referenced episode, Sonnen mentioned that a favor was called for Hogan to appear and walk out with Covington and that the WWE legend shared some helpful tips to work the crowd. He said:

"When [Covington and Hogan] met, that is when I learned that some favor got called in somewhere...He had Hulk show him a couple of things, 'DC', and they were very simple but I just appreciated rhetorically Hulk's answers." [4:55]

Check out the clip of Chael Sonnen and Hulk Hogan walking out with Colby Covington at UFC Tampa below: