UFC president Dana White has reiterated that he will not censor his fighters, in response to the controversy caused by Colby Covington last Sunday.
The American welterweight hit the headlines once more for comments made in the aftermath of his victory against Tyron Woodley in Las Vegas, when he became involved in a heated verbal exchange with current champion Kamaru Usman during an ESPN broadcast.
Covington made disparaging remarks about Usman’s ethnicity, asking the Nigerian-born athlete if he was getting “smoke signals” from his “tribe”. Later, at the post-event press conference, Covington disparaged both Woodley and the Black Lives Matter movement.
This week, in the build-up to UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi - the opening event of Return to Fight Island - a number of black UFC fighters condemned Covington for what they perceived to be racist remarks. Reebok, the UFC's apparel sponsor, issued a statement on Wednesday distancing themselves from Covington's comments.
When put to him on Thursday at a press conference on Yas Beach if he considered clamping down on fighters for comments made, White said: “That’s the 10th time you guys have asked me this ... We don’t muzzle anybody here. We let everybody speak their mind."
Asked if the UFC opposes racism, White replied: “Yeah, of course. Come on. I’m not going to play these games with you guys. Come on. If it’s racist? Would I … yes. Of course."
Looking ahead to the upcoming Fight Island 2, which kicks off on Sunday and comprises four more events up to an including UFC 254 on October 24, White confirmed new sensation Khamzat Chimaev won't be competing in Abu Dhabi this time around.
The Chechnya-born fighter, the UFC’s fastest-rising star, told American outlet TMZ on Wednesday that he was ready and raring to compete on Yas Island should White give him a call.
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Chimaev in Abu Dhabi for Fight Island 1
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Chimaev, 26, made history during the inaugural series in the capital in July, winning twice in 10 days - his first two appearances in the UFC. He added a third win last weekend, defeating the vastly experienced Gerald Meerscheart in 17 seconds on his US debut.
Chimaev is already slated to take on Brazilian Demian Maia in Las Vegas after Fight Island.
On whether Chimaev would be competing before his clash with Maia, White said: “No. He’ll fight in Vegas.”
Earlier on Thursday, Chimaev posted on social media that he had agreed a deal with the UFC to headline an event in the near future, with a five-round contest booked, despite the fact as of yet no opponent has been signed.
While White confirmed the bout, he did not comment on Chimaev’s potential rival, only to say it would be a ranked fighter.
Speaking following that hugely impressive victory last Sunday, White said of Chimaev: “The guy’s special. I’ve been in this game my whole life, I’ve never seen anything like him. He’s special. He’s different. This guy is one of the most special fighters I’ve ever seen, if not the most special I’ve ever come across.”
