In the UFC and MMA world, fighters often draw motivation from past losses, personal rivalries, or the drive to prove themselves. These factors fuel their training camps and performances inside the Octagon. While many fighters return to redeem a defeat or settle a score, Colby Covington believes Alexander Volkanovski is driven by a different reason: money. As per Covington, Volk isn’t coming back to bounce back from a loss or reclaim his former glory, but rather to secure a paycheck and support his growing family.
Covington cast doubt on Volkanovski’s motivations for returning to the Octagon. He suggests the former featherweight champion is driven more by financial incentives than competitive spirit. Covington even claimed Volkanovski targeted a fight with Islam Makhachev primarily for the payday, rather than a desire to reclaim dominance in the sport.
Additionally, Covington escalated his attack by targeting Volkanovski’s family. Pointing out that he has three daughters and implying he felt disappointed with the gender of his youngest child. The comment, while in line with Covington’s brash persona, drew criticism for veering into personal territory.
In his words, “I think he’s coming back just for a paycheck. He was looking for [Islam] Makhachev fight just to get paid. He got a lot of mouths to feed, he got three daughters and you could tell he wasn’t happy about his last daughter. We’ll see if he keeps trying to get a boy.”
Colby Covington goes off on Alexander Volkanovski 😳
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 11, 2025
"I think he's coming back just for a paycheck. He was looking for [Islam] Makhachev fight just to get paid. He got a lot of mouths to feed, he got three daughters and you could tell he wasn't happy about his last daughter.… pic.twitter.com/G0F10xHDKB
Once again, he blurred the line between fight promotion and outright disrespect, prompting debate over the limits of trash talk in UFC.
Josh Emmett Backs Alexander Volkanovski At UFC 314
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
While Colby Covington criticized Volkanovski, Josh Emmett kept things respectful and focused on the fight itself. Emmett, also a featherweight, shared his thoughts on the Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes matchup at UFC 314. He said Volkanovski is tough to beat because of his past wins and experience. Emmett believes if the fight goes the full distance, Volkanovski has the edge.
But he also pointed out that Lopes is dangerous early in the fight and could win if he catches Volkanovski with a big shot. In the end, Emmett thinks Volkanovski will get the job done but knows it won’t be an easy fight. Indeed, it will be interesting to see what happens this weekend.
Also Read: What Alexander Volkanovski Is Eating In The Fight Week Ahead Of UFC 314 Will Surprise You
