As he chased his own opportunity to become a UFC champion, Belal Muhammad called out any number of top contenders, and Colby Covington often sat near the top of his wish list.
A three-time title challenger and one-time interim champion, Covington constantly occupied a spot near the top of the UFC welterweight rankings, but ultimately opted to face former friend Jorge Masvidal in 2022. He then sat out for more than a year awaiting another title shot, which arrived this past December.