Did Kamaru Usman just unintentionally hail Colby Covington the ultimate welterweight gatekeeper?
Well, kind of.
The undisputed UFC welterweight champion says Khamzat Chimaev and other top contenders must first defeat Covington before they challenge him for the title.
Usman, who holds two title victories over Covington, made the comments during a recent interview with The Underground (h/t BJPenn.com).
“If I’m healthy and I get in there and am able to go in and go through a guy,” Usman said. “Leon Edwards is a tough, tough guy, I know that, the world knows that.