TUESDAY NEWS DIGEST 1/8: Colby Covington plans to get in Dana White’s face over Woodley-Usman booking, Rose Namajunas next title defense booked, Gustafsson looking to rebound against Anderson, and more

By Michael Hiscoe, Managing Editor

Colby Covington's act

Colby’s not happy

Current/Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is not happy that he has been skipped over for a shot at Tyron Woodley’s crown by Kamaru Usman. Speaking to MMAJunkie this week, Covington said that when he sees UFC president Dana White, he plans to “get in his face” in order to get answers. Covington is so upset with White and UFC that he is daring the promotion to cut him loose.

“OK, Dana. Let’s see if you’re a man of your balls,” Covington said on MMAJunkie Radio. “Let’s see if you’re a man of your word. Let’s see if you can stick to what you say. You said you don’t allow (not taking fights) in the UFC? All right. I’m testing you, mother(expletive). Let’s see how big your balls are. Release me, b—h.”

A release is highly unlikely here but Covington has certainly put UFC leadership on notice.

Namajunas to defend title against Andrade

UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has her next title defense set for May in Brazil. She will defend her title against former title challenger Jessica Andrade, who lost via decision in May 2017 to then-champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Since then, Andrade has rattled off three wins in a row over a trio of the division’s toughest names: Claudia Gadelha, Tecia Torres, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Namajunas has not fought since her April 2018 title defense over Jedrzejczyk. This will be “Thug Rose”‘s first title fight against someone other than Jedrzejczyk.

UFC 237 takes place on May 11 from a yet to be determined city and venue in Brazil.

Gustafsson wants Corey Anderson in London

Alexander Gustafsson is looking to rebound from his UFC 232 loss to Jon Jones by taking on another top light heavyweight in Corey Anderson. Gustafsson wrote in an Instagram post this week that he would like to fight Corey Anderson, who defeated Ilir Latifi on the same UFC 232 card, at UFC’s event from London on March 16.

“Corey everyone else at the top is taken, Gustafsson wrote. “I am eager to get right back inside the cage and you just had a good fight with my brother, so I think it’s the perfect time for us to throw down. Let’s dance on the London card March 16th.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsWCfYghohL/

Anderson responded on a different social media platform, taking to Twitter to turn down Gustafsson’s offer.

“Sorry @AlexTheMauler I’m already booked for the biggest fight of my life on March 12th. The birth of my 1st child!!!”

Fair enough.

Tuesday Notebook

-Rory MacDonald told the McDojo Show that he would prefer to fight Michael “Venom” Page in the finals of the welterweight grand prix since he already has wins over Douglas Lima and Paul Daley.

-Sam Alvey will fight Gadzhimurad Antigulov at a UFC on EPSN+ event from Prague on Feb. 23.

-Junior dos Santos vs. Derrick Lewis is being targetted for the UFC on ESPN+ card from Wichita, Kansas on March 9.

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