The past week has been a pretty contentious one for the UFC. In response to Conor McGregor’s retirement, Khabib Nurmagomedov likened him to “a jealous wife” and said he’d be back to the UFC before too long. Conor responded by going way over the top, directly insulting Khabib’s wife and Muslim heritage and then doubling down on it. Things went went so far sideways that Dana White said the UFC would be intervening. So with tensions at an all-time high and the UFC on the verge of having a full-blown culture war on their hands, now seems like the perfect time for known diplomat Colby Covington to insert himself into the conversation.

Speaking recently with Submission Radio, Covington threw out the idea that after he wins the welterweight title from Kamaru Usman, he’d like to fight Nurmagomedov next, as a way of sticking it to Usman and Khabib’s manager - Ali Abdelaziz.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s an easy fight,” Covington said. “And he’s already been asking to fight GSP in between welterweight and lightweight, and I can make in between welterweight and lightweight cause I’m not a big welterweight. So, it’s gonna be more rewarding to smash two of Ali’s biggest clients and just leave him crying, dude. He’s already emotional. You saw how emotional he was at the last fight. So, taking down two of his clients and meal tickets is gonna be a sweet feeling.”

Covington’s beef with Abdelaziz stems to an altercation at a Las Vegas buffet following UFC 235, where Abdelaziz and Usman confronted Covington and the manager tried to swing on the professional fighter. Fortunately for Covington, Abelaziz was “slow as a f*cking turtle” and his “cat-like reflexes” allowed him to escape unharmed. Now though, Covington is seeking vengeance and thinks being the guy to ruin Khabib’s perfect 27-0 record would not only be sweet, it would also be easy.

“Oh man, he would be my easiest challenge,” Covington said. “He’s small and he doesn’t even do what I do as good as I do it. He can’t wrestle as good as me, he’s never faced a high-level Division I All American, a kid who’s been wrestling his whole life. That Sambo sh*t, that sh*t’s weak, man. If wrestling were easy, it would be called Sambo. But it’s not, it’s called wrestling.”

If Covington does get past Usman, it’s not hard to envision him talking his way into a fight with Khabib. After all, Nurmagomedov has already shown he can be goaded by trash talk and Covington is currently “living rent-free” in Usman’s head because of the things he’s said to the welterweight champion. It’s pretty easy to imagine the man who called all Brazilian fans “filthy animals” would be able to say something to make Khabib want to swing at him.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Back. Following Twitter feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor announces his return to the UFC

Pneumonia. Yoel Romero out of UFC Fort Lauderdale main event.

Beef. Colby Covington on Kamaru Usman: ‘I’m living rent-free’ in his head.

Who shot ya? Kelvin Gastelum: Khabib-Conor feud could end with someone getting ‘hurt or shot’.

MSG. Chael Sonnen vs. Lyoto Machida booked for Bellator’s return to Madison Square Garden.

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VIDEO STEW

The MMA Beat.

Kelvin Gastelum lunch.

Moraes interview.

Breaking down Poirier-Holloway.

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LISTEN UP

The MMA Depressed Us. Looking back at some of the worst fights in combat sports history.

Below the Belt. Brendan Schaub interviews Luke Thomas in DC.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Jacare.

Ottawa poster.

USADA.

Does this mean he’s going to fight someone?

Sign him up.

Advice.

Beef.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alex da Silva (20-1) vs. Alexander Yakovlev (24-9-1); UFC St. Petersburg, April 20.

Virna Jandiroba (14-0) vs. Carla Esparza (13-6); UFC Fort Lauderdale, April 27.

Macy Chiasson (4-0) vs. Sarah Moras (5-4); UFC Ottawa, May 14.

Ricardo Lamas (19-7) vs. Calvin Kattar (19-3); UFC 238, June 8.

Chael Sonnen (30-16-1) vs. Lyoto Machida (25-8); BellatorNYC, June 14.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I have historically given Brendan Schaub a ton of sh*t (with reason) but he is definitely getting much better. His interview with Luke was good. Hand up on that one - I was some kind of wrong.

Thanks for reading and see y’all on Monday.

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EXIT POLL

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.