Bo Nickal Blasts Colby Covington: “Man up and take your beating”

Bo Nickal is gearing up for a potential showdown with Colby Covington after the welterweight contender unleashed harsh criticism against him during the RAF 05 press conference earlier this year. Nickal has expressed his intent to settle the score inside the UFC octagon, targeting Covington for payback over the provocative remarks that have fueled a growing rivalry between the two fighters.

At the #RAF05 press conference, Covington and Luke Rockhold launched into Bo Nickal, labeling him a "bum" who was "broken by a Dutch kickboxer." Covington further escalated the attack by stating, "You've done absolutely nothing in the sport of MMA. You quit before the knee hit you," according to footage shared via @MMAFighting on social media.

In response to the barbs, Nickal has called out Covington for a fight at the upcoming White House card, but "Chaos"—Covington's longtime nickname—has shown no interest in the matchup. The proposed bout would place the two Americans head-to-head in a high-stakes environment tied to a significant national event.

Covington had previously teased a potential move up to middleweight for his next fight, but his latest comments indicate he plans to remain at welterweight for now. The 37-year-old fighter appears focused on staying in the 170-pound division amid ongoing discussions with the UFC.

During a recent interview with Valuetainment, Covington disclosed that he is in negotiations with the UFC to secure a spot on the White House card. He expressed strong interest in facing lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett, urging the British fighter to move up to welterweight.

Covington detailed his reasoning, saying, “I would really like to fight with Paddy Pimblett. He had shown interest that he might wanna come up a weight class to welterweight. He’s cutting a lot of weight to get to 155 [pounds]. The kid weighs 200 [pounds]. He looks like sh*t. Even the doctors told him ‘dude, your organs are going to fail if you keep cutting to lightweight.’”

The matchup appeals to Covington for its international flavor, as he added, “I love that fight, plus it’s a fight where it’s an American versus a British guy. I don’t want to fight an American guy on the 250th birthday of America.” This stance underscores his preference for a patriotic narrative on the historic card commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary.