{"id":1394376,"date":"2021-08-03T18:23:26","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T22:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1394376"},"modified":"2021-08-03T18:23:27","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T22:23:27","slug":"colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/","title":{"rendered":"Former UFC Champion Colby Covington Doubles Down on His Beef With LeBron James: &#8216;He's a Chinese Puppet Master'"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Colby Covington is the No. 1-ranked welterweight in UFC. He also has an extended beef with Los Angeles Lakers star <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/tag\/lebron-james\/\">LeBron James<\/a>. Covington has <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/lebron-james-called-spineless-coward-by-ufc-star-colby-covington\/\">criticized James in the past<\/a> for his stances on social issues and politics and during a recent interview, he <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/3-reasons-why-we-dont-like-colby-covington\/\">turned up the heat<\/a> on some of his rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A scheduled rematch between Covington and Kamaru Usman for the UFC Welterweight Championship is on the horizon. Making the media rounds in advance of the Nov. 6 bout, Covington renewed his attacks on James. But the former world champion grappler <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/how-colby-covington-betrayed-his-former-friend-jorge-masvidal\/\">has a history of controversy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-colby-covington-brands-himself-as-a-heel\">Colby Covington brands himself as a heel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anatomy of UFC 223: Kamaru Usman backstage Altercation with Colby Covington\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PH1fcUKvy2g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hard to tell how much of Colby Covington\u2019s schtick is legitimate and <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/ufc-heel-colby-covington-isnt-worth-as-much-as-hed-like-you-to-believe\/\">how much is for show<\/a>. In 2014, Covington said he modeled his career after controversial fighters such as Conor McGregor and Chael Sonnen, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/MMA\/comments\/2jcd0r\/hello_rmma_i_am_ufc_welterweight_colby_covington\/clae2go\/?context=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reddit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cI think it speaks for itself. It sells and makes guys superstars, so if that\u2019s what it takes, then I\u2019m willing to do it, but you have to back it up, and I can do that.\u201d<\/p><cite>Colby Covington in 2014<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>At UFC 223 in Brooklyn in 2018, a behind-the-scenes dust-up between Covington and Usman made waves, if for no other reason than Covington\u2019s complete lack of anything interesting to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Covington is also an outspoken supporter of <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/donald-trump-gave-a-call-to-his-favorite-ufc-fighter-after-a-win\/\">former President Donald Trump<\/a>, explaining some of the fascinations with LeBron James. Trump has frequently targeted James in his stump speeches, including <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RonFilipkowski\/status\/1419085174181142531\">some rather odd thoughts<\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a pattern Covington followed during a recent interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-colby-covington-again-puts-lebron-james-on-blast\">Colby Covington again puts LeBron James on blast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Colby Covington on Conor McGregor\u2019s Loss, Kamaru Usman Rematch, and LeBron James\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FIrf1S3YjB0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During an interview with Daily Wire reporter Joe Morgan, Colby Covington turned to one of his favorite topics, LeBron James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cJust a big hypocrite. He talks about his two biggest things he loves to talk about: equality and justice. Where\u2019s the equality of employing women in Chinese sweatshops to make your merchandise for millions of dollars while they\u2019re making pennies, where\u2019s the equality in that?<\/p><p>\u201cWhere\u2019s the justice in critiquing the greatest country on God\u2019s green Earth \u2014 America \u2014 but not talking about Hong Kong, not talking about the Uyghurs in China? He stays silent on everything in China because he\u2019s a Chinese puppet master.\u201d<\/p><cite>Colby Covington<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Covington did not elaborate on which Chinese puppets James controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During his 2018 war of words in Brooklyn, Usman called Covington a \u201cTwitter tough guy.\u201d Covington has taken to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ColbyCovMMA\/status\/1365730291852201993\">tweets<\/a> to criticize James on a couple of occasions. Once, he <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ColbyCovMMA\/status\/1333449138357358592\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tweeted<\/a> he could take James in a fight, which is an odd flex for a professional fighter talking about a basketball player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Covington continued his rant about James, claiming the NBA star\u2019s charity work is nothing more than \u201ca tax write-off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lebron-james-has-a-long-history-of-social-and-political-activism\">LeBron James has a long history of social and political activism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg?strip=all&#038;quality=89\" alt=\"LeBron James remains a favorite target for UFC fighter Colby Covington\" class=\"wp-image-1394389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150 150w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg?w=300&amp;h=300 300w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg?w=768&amp;h=768 768w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg?w=60&amp;h=60 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption>Colby Covington (R) renewed his criticism of LeBron James (L) during a recent interview with the Daily Wire. | Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images | Todd Lussier\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For much of his NBA career, LeBron James has focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/lebron-james-has-officially-become-nba-first-billion-dollar-man\/\">things other than basketball<\/a>. His political stance on social issues had sparked the <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/lebron-james-tiktok-deputy-537000-gofundme-ultimately-cost-his-job\/\">ire of the political right<\/a> on multiple occasions, most notably when a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Euyu8TS0eI8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">conservative pundit<\/a> said James should \u201cshut up and dribble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James opened the I Promise School in his hometown of Akron in 2019. In 2020, he launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.morethanavote.org\/open-letter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More Than a Vote<\/a>. Formed in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police offer Derek Chauvin and the death of Breonna Taylor, who local police officers fatally shot in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment, More Than a Vote\u2019s focus is clear, per its website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cWe are focused on systemic, targeted voter suppression in our community and have a specific mission: educate, energize and protect Black voters.\u201d<\/p><cite>More Than a Vote<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>James has clapped back at critics before, though he has never addressed Covington directly. In February 2021, Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic suggested James and other athletes not get involved in politics, per <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/nba-serie-a-los-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-political-activism-96812a1e4447852e48e0c61bd4ec3ab5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Associated Press<\/a>. Ibrahimovic said athletes should \u201cjust do what you do best because it doesn\u2019t look good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James responded by reminding Ibrahimovic about his activism in his home country. In 2018, the soccer star talked about \u201cundercover racism\u201d because of his heritage. His father is Bosnian, and his mother is from Croatia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Covington\u2019s recent comments are on-brand for him. He embraces the heel role, and nothing says \u201cbad guy\u201d more than taking on cultural icons with different points of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Colby Covington isn\u2019t going to change his mind about LeBron James. But it\u2019s just as clear that James isn\u2019t going to change his approach to duck criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/lebron-james-gives-adam-silver-approval-continue-recent-nba-innovation\/\">LeBron James Gives Adam Silver His Approval to Continue a Recent NBA Innovation<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UFC fighter Colby Covington embraced the heel role years ago. So, it was perfectly on-brand when he renewed his frequent criticism of NBA star LeBron James during a recent interview with conservative media outlet the Daily Wire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":1394389,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,10853],"tags":[4828,90993],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Former UFC Champion Colby Covington Doubles Down on His Beef With LeBron James: &#039;He&#039;s a Chinese Puppet Master&#039; - Sports7<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UFC fighter Colby Covington embraced the heel role years ago. So, it was perfectly on-brand when he again went after NBA star LeBron James.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Former UFC Champion Colby Covington Doubles Down on His Beef With LeBron James: &#8216;He's a Chinese Puppet Master'\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"UFC fighter Colby Covington embraced the heel role years ago. So, it was perfectly on-brand when he again went after NBA star LeBron James.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sports7\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-03T22:23:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-03T22:23:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Phil Watson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Phil_Watson_UP\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Phil Watson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/\",\"name\":\"Former UFC Champion Colby Covington Doubles Down on His Beef With LeBron James: 'He's a Chinese Puppet Master' - Sports7\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/colby-covington-doubles-down-beef-with-lebron-james\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jamesmerged.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-03T22:23:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-03T22:23:27+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/ee47ea0b4ff959cd6a683f377450ccc6\"},\"description\":\"UFC fighter Colby Covington embraced the heel role years ago. 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