Burns vs Covington
A surprising feud took place on Monday between #8 ranked UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns and ESPN analyst Chael Sonnen after Sonnen falsely announced Burns’ retirement. Burns retaliated by leaking Sonnen’s mobile number, leading to hundreds of messages being sent to Sonnen.
Colby Covington, with Sonnen in his corner during his December 14th loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa, reacted to Burns leaking Sonnen’s number during a Twitch livestream saying: “Hey Uncle Chael, if you want me to handle this inside the octagon, I’ll get justice for us, I’ll get justice on Gilbert’s f*cking face. I will make sure he never shows his face in America again because of how badly I beat him.”
This week, Burns replied to Covington’s callout with several X posts, proposing a bout for April or May in Miami but Covington is yet to respond to this offer.
Realistic Fight to Make?
Both fighters are in the twilight stage of their careers. Burns, 38, is on a three-fight losing streak against top contenders such as Jack Della Maddalena, Sean Brady, and current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Covington has been particularly inactive, fighting only four times from 2020 to 2024. During this stretch, Covington has lost three bouts – versus Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 in November 2021, Leon Edwards at UFC 296 in December 2023, and most recently to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa.
Covington’s only wins came from a submission win versus Tyron Woodley and a decision win versus teammate turned heated rival, Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022.

Colby Covington Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
The Match-Up
Burns is renowned for his explosive power, lethal ground game and unwavering toughness. His iconic three-round war with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273 in April 2022 highlighted his ability to hang with the division’s elite. Although losing a close decision, Burns cemented his reputation as one of the most resilient contenders in UFC history.
Covington, on the other hand, is best known for his relentless cardio, high pressure pace and elite wrestling. His intense two-fight rivalry with Kamaru Usman was a clear showcase that Covington could compete at the highest level of fighting. Despite coming up short in both fights, he proved his pre-fight antics were not just a façade and solidified himself as one of the best welterweights we have seen in recent years.

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Will the Fight Happen?
With the curtains closing on an action-packed year for mixed martial arts, fans are already looking at the matchups that could shape 2025. This unexpected rivalry between Gilbert and Colby is sure to be one to watch, with both fighters exchanging heated words, hoping to settle their beef in the Octagon in Spring of 2025.