It was only a matter of time, but Colby Covington is officially done with American Top Team.
The former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion revealed the news to The Score that he's parted ways with his longtime gym, citing it was a business decision on his end:
“I’m not a member of American Top Team in Coconut Creek,” Covington told The Score. “I’m a member of Colby Covington, Inc. I’m a member of Colby Covington business and Colby Covington team.
“You can now direct your complaints at me. All the people going to Dan Lambert and American Top Team directing their complaints, up in their feelings: ‘I’m a pro fighter, but I’m going to going to Dan Lambert. “Hey, Dan, I don’t want to fight him in the cage because I know I can’t beat him, but can you protect my precious little feelings?”
Despite leaving the gym, Covington praises Dan Lambert and considers the owner a friend. The 32-year-old expresses his gratitude over the opportunity Lambert has given him:
“I respect Dan Lambert more than anything in the world – that guy will have my respect till the day I die,” Covington said. “I owe that guy everything. He gave me an opportunity nine years ago to come train at his gym full-time, have food, money and a place to live. He never left me out in the cold. He always gave me the opportunity. So I’m very thankful for my time there. He’s still a friend, he’s still a mentor, but I fulfilled my debts there.
“We won together a world title, but I was also able to do something for him that no other fighter is going to do – and that’s take him to the White House. So we had a great relationship together. He did a lot for me and I’m grateful I was able to give him something back.”
The problems between Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, Dustin Poirier, and Joanna Jędrzejczyk – who are all American Top Team members – have been well documented. In fact, the issues between the members became so intense that Lambert was forced to implement a “zero tolerance” policy for trash-talking, something that influenced Covington’s decision to leave.
The former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion never states that his feuds between his ATT members are the exact reasoning behind his decision to leave; however, it was surely a matter of time before the heat between the members got too big. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Covington guaranteed that he would knockout Jorge Masvidal if they ever saw each other on the streets.