Gilbert Burns is skeptical of Colby Covington’s claim that he broke his foot.
Covington provided Submission Radio an X-ray image of his broken foot, which he says happened after he landed a kick on Leon Edwards’ elbow during their title fight at UFC 296.
Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) attributed his lackluster effort in his unanimous decision loss to Edwards due to his foot injury, but Burns isn’t entirely sold on his story.
“He was going everywhere here,” Burns told The AllStar. “I saw him walking everywhere. The X-ray, I don’t see his name on the X-ray. I don’t know. Then we saw him walk everywhere in Miami, playing poker, going everywhere. I didn’t see no cast, I didn’t see anything. So, I don’t know. It’s very hard to believe anything Colby says.
“You don’t know when it’s true, you don’t know when he’s a character. I just think a lot of guys said he didn’t show up. I think he did show up, but I think Leon just shut him down and I think Leon is – people don’t give him a lot of credit, but I think he’s very, very good. He just shut the guy down.”
Covington named Burns (22-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC), as well as Ian Machado Garry and Stephen Thompson as potential next opponents. Burns meets Jack Della Maddalena (16-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC 299 on March 9, and is no longer interested in Covington.
“I saw a couple things that he said that he might fight Ian Garry or me,” Burns said. “Is that fight still relevant? Like, the way that guy showed up, two years without fighting. I don’t know. I’m not even thinking of this guy. I called this guy out so many times. He had so many opportunities to fight me. Now my focus is on Jack.
“After Jack, we’ll see, but I’m not passing through Jack. This guy’s going to be very hungry. I don’t know. I just think Edwards shut (Covington) down real bad, and I think he’s done. Whenever after the fight he called for (Stephen) ‘Wonderboy’ (Thompson) and ‘Wonderboy’ just lost, too. It’s just like, that guy is done. He’ll never fight for the title again. So, why fight him?”
