Colby Covington was theoretically at the front of the line to face new UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but there’s been a change of plans.
The former interim welterweight titleholder will instead face ex-champion Robbie Lawler in the main event of UFC on ESPN: Newark on August 3rd. It’s scheduled to be Covington’s first bout inside the Octagon since winning the interim belt vs. Rafael dos Anjos last June, only to be stripped of it when he was unable to face then-champion Tyron Woodley later that September.
Covington has repeatedly put the UFC on blast for its decision not to keep his place as the next title challenger, going as far as to (unsuccessfully) confront Dana White at the blackjack table.