Colby Covington is never one to mince words, and his latest target is the UFC's matchmaking for the highly anticipated Freedom 250 event. The outspoken welterweight, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, expressed his frustration after being left off the card, but his criticism extends far beyond his own omission.

The main event features a blockbuster lightweight title unification bout between the undefeated champion Ilia Topuria and the hard-hitting interim champ, Justin Gaethje. While fans are buzzing about this clash of styles, Covington sees it as a foregone conclusion. He believes the UFC is sending the American fan favorite, Gaethje, into a mismatch against a fighter he calls "the best on the planet."

"To send Gaethje out there to get slaughtered – I mean, Topuria is the best fighter on the planet right now," Covington stated on Daniel Cormier's YouTube channel. He pointed to Topuria's dominant wins over elite names like Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, and Charles Oliveira as proof of the champion's otherworldly form. In contrast, Covington suggests "The Highlight" is on the wrong side of his career peak, noting, "there's no beating father time."

Covington's critique isn't limited to the main event. He took issue with the overall composition of the card, arguing it lacks sufficient star power from American fighters for an event celebrating the nation's birthday. He pointed to the co-main event, where he sees veteran Michael Chandler as another American being set up for a tough night. "41, 42-year-old Michael Chandler? He's a punching bag now," Covington claimed, framing it as another example of unfavorable matchmaking.

While he gave a nod to bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley's presence on the card, Covington's message was clear: he believes the UFC could have built a stronger lineup featuring more top-tier American talent for its patriotic showcase. His comments add another layer of drama to an already stacked event, highlighting the perennial debate about fight promotion and competitive fairness at the highest level of the sport.