The recent video sparked intense discussions across various platforms, generating countless comments and reactions from fans and critics alike. Some phrases echoed repeatedly: "The No. 1 Boxer in the World," "The Strongest Man," and "Better Wrestling Skills than You." Honestly, I couldn't help but chuckle at Colby's antics. It's wild to think someone who's lost to Wusman twice had the audacity to call out a champion who just defeated him. Colby continues to revel in his own ridiculousness, clearly relishing the attention he garners from such outrageous proclamations.
It's as if he lives in a fantasy where he genuinely believes he can challenge for the championship while simultaneously dodging fights with noteworthy opponents, which leads many to view him as cowardly. "Are you all fans of Ye Chen?" one commenter mused. "You can't seriously think Colby has no chance, right? Sure, he lost to Wusman, but that doesn't mean he couldn't potentially beat Ye Chen."
This sparked a flurry of debate: "Alright, tell me how he can win?" someone chimed in. One fervent supporter of Colby declared him a force to be reckoned with, emphasizing that he had previously gone toe-to-toe with Wu Siman. According to them, Colby's physical endurance is astounding, and if not for a nasty injury sustained during his battle with Wusman, he could very well have held the championship title right now.
On the flip side, some fans voiced their confusion over why there's such popularity surrounding him. "Support domestic talent," exclaimed another commenter emphatically. "The UFC should be dominated by local fighters, not foreign contenders." Meanwhile, someone pointed out the futility of dismissing Ye Chen's undeniable strength, saying, "How can we be so sure Ye Chen doesn't have the physical stamina for five rounds? Just because Colby feels confident doesn't mean he's invincible."
Then, of course, there's Chimaev—another fighter whose name keeps resurfacing in these conversations. "Chimaev?" someone scoffed. "He's the guy who got knocked out by the scale. Why even bring him up?" The video caught fire, quickly making its rounds back in China on platforms like Tieba, Xiao TV Station, Douyin, and Kuaishou. The fervor surrounding this video didn't taper off; the comment sections were alive with energy, rivaling those of Western audiences.
Ye Chen returned from an intensive training session just as the conversations escalated. Lying in his arms was Catwoman, engrossed in her phone, who chimed in on the conversation. "Is he serious? Why's he even talking about you?" she remarked with a roll of her eyes. Ye Chen wasn't in a great mood either. This was the first time someone had called out his inner circle so brazenly, and what gnawed at him most was the knowledge that this was merely an opening act. With Covington's tendency to stir the pot, Ye Chen had a feeling this wouldn't be the last disturbance.
If Covington were to confront him directly with such remarks, Ye Chen was certain he would respond with a slap, unwilling to let that kind of disrespect slide. "Doesn't he have any shame in promoting himself this way?" Catwoman inquired. "You're not honestly considering physically confronting him, are you?"
Ye Chen shook his head firmly. "I don't want to engage him. He's just a provocateur. If I react, I'm simply playing into his game." Catwoman's frustration bubbled over as she contemplated confronting Covington herself, but Ye Chen quickly intervened, cautioning her not to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Even a brief comment from either of them could send Covington into a frenzy of self-promotion.
However, Ye Chen would come to learn that he had drastically underestimated Covington's lack of boundaries. The following day brought more media frenzy. Apart from the wildfire spread of the original video, Covington released another, doubling down on his provocations. This time, he was in the same gaudy outfit, flanked by the same four girls, clearly having filmed both videos back-to-back.
In this new upload, Covington taunted, "What do Ye Chen's fans think? He's just a coward who avoids challenges. I'm here calling him out, yet he cowers in silence. I have a friend at UFC headquarters who slipped me some intriguing gossip. Wanna know what Ye Chen supposedly told Dana? He allegedly asked Dana to guarantee he wouldn't face me in the Octagon, insisting he can outfight anyone... except me. He fears me, claiming I'm his nemesis, convinced that fighting me would end any chances of victory."
Continuing his tirade, Covington proclaimed, "Dana is just trying to preserve his cash cow. He knows I'll annihilate him in the Octagon—I can and will knock him out. What kind of champion is afraid of a fight?" Covington concluded this verbal barrage by calling out Ye Chen to face him for the sake of his fans, asserting, "Don't you want to prove you're not a coward?"
The absurdity peaked when Covington dramatically shed his windbreaker, revealing a pair of shorts emblazoned with Catwoman's likeness. This was just another stunt for him, yet it quickly bolstered the video's virality, far surpassing its predecessor. Not only did it fan the flames among Ye Chen's supporters, but it also ignited Catwoman's fanbase.
As the video proliferated across YouTube and social media, the backlash against Covington grew, with a deluge of criticism flooding in. Viewers questioned his integrity, leading some to call for the suspension of the UFC due to Covington's flagrant behavior. He was quickly labeled as tasteless and unoriginal by countless commentators, while others portrayed him as a bold promoter trying to stir up interest in their fight.
"Is this really the behavior of a fighter?" a commenter queried. "Covington is a joke. He's so desperate for attention, it's embarrassing." One supporter, however, insisted, "Colby is an entertaining character, pushing the limits to promote this match. Just look at Ye Chen's silence—it's a testament to his fear."
In the midst of all this tumult, Dana White found himself seething at the chaos unfolding. Initially dismissive of Covington's antics, he spent hours contemplating the potential fallout. As the hours passed, it became clear that his actions had sparked backlash from women across the board, escalating feelings of discomfort and potentially leading to societal ramifications.
The UFC's official communication channels were inundated with complaints, even prompting the Vegas sports authority to admonish them to rein in their fighters' sensationalism. Completely unaware of the situation brewing, Ye Chen remained steadfast in his training regimen, until Catwoman finally brought him into the loop. After watching the video, his anger simmered just below the surface.
"It doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things," he mused, "since we all play in the same world and understand the game. But bringing the people I care about into this mix? Absolutely intolerable."
To further complicate things, Ye Chen currently lacked an imminent fight schedule. Without hesitation, he took to social media to respond directly to Covington: "You really want to square off with me? Sure thing, but I've got a condition. Just consider this my act of mercy: I'll require a two-million-dollar deposit. If you lose in the ring, that money and all earnings from the fight will come to me. If I lose, you can take everything I've earned from this match."
His intent was crystal clear: not only did he want to win decisively, but he also aimed to ensure Covington emerged from this encounter without a dime to his name. Ye Chen had calculated how Covington's earnings from recent high-profile bouts wouldn't even approach that two-million-dollar mark due to taxes and other deductions.
Some might think this was a foolish endeavor, and maybe it was—a notion even Ye Chen himself entertained. But in the fight game, some players truly thrived on this brand of hype.
As for the questions circulating about fighters migrating between weight classes after winning a championship, it's simple: competitors have to cut weight to return and defend their titles. If they avoid doing so for an extended period, the UFC will take the necessary measures to crown someone else as champion, leaving the former titleholder in a precarious position. A prime example of this was Oliveira and Mahar; Oliveira initially preferred a match with Connor over Mahar, which led to a series of complications that ultimately compelled him into a fight against his rightful challenger. The weight-cutting landscape of the UFC was as fluid as the drama that unfolded within its cages, and that chaos kept fans at the edge of their seats.