UFC: Colby Covington offers to ‘save America’ by fighting Tyron Woodley on short notice at relocated London card

Covington wants to ‘put the MAGA cape on’ after Woodley’s original opponent Edwards pulls out

Edwards ‘heartbroken’ after promotion announces London card will be relocated due to concerns over coronavirus

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Colby Covington straps his former interim belt over his shoulder at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Instagram/@colbycovmma

Published: 3:23pm, 16 Mar 2020Updated: 8:35pm, 16 Mar 2020

Colby Covington has offered to “put his MAGA cape on” and step in to fight former teammate Tyron Woodley at UFC Fight Night 171 this weekend.

Former welterweight champion Woodley (19-4-1) was originally headlining the March 22 London event with British contender Leon Edwards before UFC president Dana White announced a change of location due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Edwards (18-3) has since pulled out.

“Word on the street is [Leon] is out. The UFC and America need a hero. Who wants to see America’s champ put the MAGA cape on and beat the [expletive] out of Tyron Woodley live on ESPN next week for your entertainment and my own personal pleasure?” Covington (15-2) wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him holding an interim belt.

Covington – a former training partner of Woodley’s at American Top Team – posted twice more, the latest a video saying: “[Tyron], America wants March Madness. The people want this fight. I want this fight. Your last album was so bad, you need this fight. Let’s save America, [expletive].”

Edwards, who is ranked fourth in the welterweight division, announced he was pulling out of the fight hours after London’s O2 Arena was scrapped as the fight location. The UFC’s new arrangements have yet to be confirmed.

“Last night I went to sleep still with some hope that UFC London would continue next week. I woke up this morning to the news that it won’t be. We have been working with the UFC on possible solutions to keep the fight alive, but unfortunately with such a short window of time, nothing was viable.