Hulk Hogan gives Colby Covington pep talk before fight: ‘It was the greatest walkout of my career’
Despite suffering a defeat in his return last month, Colby Covington has revealed professional wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan gave him a pre-fight motivational speech ahead of his UFC Fight Night Orlando return — leading to the “greatest walkout” of his tenure in the promotion, according to the Clovis native.
Covington, a former interim welterweight champion and current number nine ranked divisional contender, headlined UFC Fight Night Orlando last month against the surging, Joaquin Buckley — dropping an eventual third round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss against the St. Louis contender.
Colby Covington reveals Hulk Hogan inspired him ahead of UFC Orlando
And flanked to the Octagon by former title challenger, Chael Sonnen — who served in his corner in his return to ‘The Sunshine State’, Covington revealed former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) global icon Hogan provided him with a motivational speech backstage ahead of the main event clash.
“It was a dream come true. You know, I grew up watching Hulk,” Colby Covington told Submission Radio during a recent interview. “Hulkamania was always on in my household. And, you know, all the legend that he’s done in the combat sports world—man, it was just so humbling to have him in my locker room.
The guy’s, you know, talking to me, praying for me before my fight, giving me motivation,” Colby Covington explained. To see this guy, this larger-than-life figure, being there to support me, giving his time to me, and giving me a pep talk before we walked out—nothing will ever compare to that. That was the greatest walkout of my career.”
Welcoming a potential return at the middleweight limit later this annum, Covington weighed up a potential pairing with former champion and incoming UFC 312 headliner and title chaser, Sean Strickland — claiming the veteran was “nothing special” in the grand scheme of fighting.
“I think I’ve just been so focused on welterweight for so long that, you know, I never let my eyes get off of the, you know, the couple of fights that I’m looking at at welterweight,” Colby Covington told. But, you know, I mean, the Sean Strickland fight’s always interesting.
