According to Colby Covington, Jon Jones will never receive his vote of approval in the all-time great debate. The two wrestlers were previously roommates at Iowa Central Community College, where they were striving to be the best. However, their relationship soured when they chose different paths and found success in mixed martial arts, particularly in the UFC.

Though Jones is renowned for his accomplishments in the octagon, including his recent capture of the UFC heavyweight championship and most wins in title fights, his talent is often overshadowed by controversies outside of the cage, such as rumors of performance-enhancing drug use and legal troubles.

Covington strongly believes that a great fighter must possess clean behavior both inside and outside of the cage, which Jones does not have. Despite Covington’s negative stance towards Jones, the UFC fighter has his own opinions on who should be considered the greatest of all time. Covington favors Chael Sonnen, another controversial figure in the sport, as a fighter who was able to transcend the sport and become larger than life.

Covington admires Sonnen’s Oregon wrestling roots, fighting spirit, and family values, along with his ability to speak out and support political agendas that align with his beliefs. In the meantime, Covington remains in pursuit of his own UFC title, having only been defeated by Kamaru Usman during his championship bids.

He believes in being a standout fighter with a blue-collar worth ethic both inside and outside the cage, and he upholds those values during his fights, which are characterized by his outspoken personality and high-volume wrestle-kickboxer style. While he awaits official confirmation of his next opponent, Leon Edwards, Covington will continue advocating for clean athletes and respecting those who uphold good morals and values.

In other news, the MMA community recently witnessed several upsets, including Kai Kara-France’s controversial split decision loss to Amir Albazi at UFC Vegas 74 and Beneil Dariush’s possible riot if the UFC passes over him for the next title fight. The announcement of a Jon Jones vs. Tyson Fury UFC bout has also caused a stir among fans.