C. Covington (photo) is prohibited from provoking teammates. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @colbycovmma
Known for not mincing words and provoking any possible opponent, Colby covington, now, will have the reins shortened within ATT (American Top Team). According to the gym leader, Dan Lambert, the North American is officially prohibited from provoking teammates, unless the welterweight (up to 77kg) has a commitment to face his rival in the UFC. The measure was taken in order to maintain good coexistence within the training space. The statement was made in an interview with 'MMA Fighting'.
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“It got personal, and I think I was wrong. I think I made a mistake. I think I should have nipped the problem in the bud, and it got to the point where it was affecting the coaches, the training partners, the vibrations in the gym, and as a result, we decided to adjust that and created a new policy,” Lambert said.
Dan, however, understands that there are exceptions to what the famous 'trash talk' can happen. However, when it comes to Covington, some measures need to be taken so that the 'loudmouth' does not go beyond the acceptable limits of coexistence.
“Unless you have a deal to fight someone, in which case there obviously needs to be some promotion, there is a gag order for talking about people in the gym. If this is something a fighter chooses to do, then they have to go somewhere else,” explained the ATT leader.
In the last year, Colby has been involved in controversy with Jorge masvidal e Dustin poirier, from American Top Team, and the action ended up, according to Dan, influencing his gym routine. Lambert then commented on the situation between Covington and 'Diamante', which led him to take the step of banning provocations.
“I don't know if it was this last round of conversation where Colby violated a truce I had between him and (Dustin) Poirier, or some of the conversation between him and Joanna (Jedrzejczyk). It might just be the grand scheme of things, dealing with some of the other issues that affect our sport and everyone's lives. I see how petty some of this sh*t is, and why do I have to deal with it and (have) allowed it to become a reality?” asked Dan.
Finally, Lambert gave Colby the ultimatum and assured that he will not allow the attitudes to be repeated within his gym.
“I don't think there are any options. It is an absolute zero tolerance policy. If you break the rule, you go somewhere else. People come, people go. No individual is greater than the team, and the fact is that the team will be here 30 years from now, still doing the same thing when certain individuals are long gone. Let’s put together something that is the best for the gym environment and for the people in the gym today and tomorrow”, he concluded.
Currently, Covington is one of the main athletes among the UFC welterweights. The athlete competed for the category belt in December last year, when he was defeated by Kamaru Usman.
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