The beef between UFC commentator Joe Rogan and welterweight title challenger Colby Covington got very real, very quickly.
It all started on a recent edition of the voice of the UFC's podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, in which he was discussing Covington's rise to fame. The welterweight is a very controversial figure in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Covington gained notoriety for his brash trash talk, even calling a Brazilian crowd filthy animals at one point. He has also talked trash about other fighters outside his weight class, such as Jon Jones and Conor McGregor.
Rogan discussed this on his podcast and warned that Covington should mind who he talks smack about, in regards to Jon Jones, because he might just find himself in the same room as Bones one day and get slapped.
Jon Jones is the most feared fighter in all of MMA, and is likely the greatest fighter of all time - so there is legitimate premise for Rogan to warn Covington against a verbal onslaught on the former light heavyweight champion of the world.
Regardless, Covington took exception to Rogan's words and threatened to offer Rogan the same treatment at UFC 225 in Chicago when they see each other. Covington threatened to slap Rogan for his words.
It appears Rogan has finally caught wind of this and addressed the threat on the latest episode of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Here's what Rogan had to say on the matter (quotes via MMA Mania):
”Colby Covington, don’t slap me,” Rogan said with a smile. “You said you were going to slap me? Don’t slap me. I was talking s**t.
"Because I was telling that Jon Jones might slap him. ‘I might slap you!’ I like Colby, I like what he’s doing.
"He’s talking a lot of s**t, I’m just saying be careful who you talk shit to. Talking s**t to Jon Jones ... he’s one of the baddest motherf**kers who ever lived.
”He’s making a lot of money, he’s being smart,” Joe said.
“The reason Colby is fighting for the title, the reason Colby is going to fight Rafael dos Anjos for the interim title, is not just because he’s beaten good guys, because he has beaten Demian Maia.
"But it’s more importantly that he’s going to put asses in the seats. Part of the fight business now.
"There’s pre- and post-Conor McGregor, and post Conor McGregor the game has changed. It’s red panties night, baby. Everything’s different.
”That is not really, I’m just going to be honest, this is not the resume of someone who you would normally see fighting for the title right now,” Rogan clarified.
“I think he’s fighting for the title based not just on beating Demian Maia, who’s a really tough guy, but on the fact that he’s a controversial, very popular character.
"Because he talks so much s**t. And talks so much s**t about Brazilians.”
What are your thoughts on Rogan's response to Covington threatening to slap him? Do you think Covington will confront Rogan in any way regarding this matter? And what are your thoughts on Covington's persona? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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