“He is a liar, and he is a thief… You bow in Brazil, they…take your wallet out of your pocket.” These were the words of Chael Sonnen, one of the UFC’s most notorious trash talkers, as he verbally dismantled Anderson Silva ahead of their UFC 117 185lbs title showdown in 2010. Sonnen’s relentless taunts and brash persona set the stage for a heated rivalry, but when fight night arrived, the Brazilian juggernaut had the last laugh, submitting Sonnen in the final round. While the fight itself has become a distant memory, Sonnen’s inflammatory remarks left a lasting impact in Brazil.
When crime and gang violence were at their peak, his comments sparked a national outrage, leading to death threats and serious security concerns. Consequently, the UFC moved his rematch with Silva from UFC 147 in Brazil to UFC 148 in Las Vegas to ensure his safety. However, Chael Sonnen likely never imagined that years later, his protege, Colby Covington, would follow the same path—only to face an even bigger storm of controversy. By 2017, ‘Chaos’ found himself at a career crossroads, in dire need of a breakthrough moment to cement his place in the UFC.
That chance arrived in Sao Paulo at UFC Fight Night 119, where he delivered a commanding victory over Brazilian legend Demian Maia at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium. Yet, it wasn’t just his performance inside the Octagon that stole the spotlight—it was his post-fight remarks. Seizing the microphone, Covington ignited controversy by delivering one of the most infamous promos in UFC history, branding Brazilians as “filthy animals” and dismissing their country as a “dump.”
The fallout was immediate. Death threats poured in, and reports surfaced that furious Brazilian fans had placed a $50,000 bounty on his head. Colby Covington was suddenly the UFC’s most despised figure in Brazil, a villainous persona he has since embraced. Now, in 2025, the Clovis export remains one of the most polarizing fighters in MMA. During a recent appearance on the Digital Social Hour podcast, the host remarked, “You might be one of the most hated fighters of all time.”
Without hesitation, the former 170lbs title challenger responded, “Number one, in my opinion. The hate, the death threats, the bounties on my head… That’s when I made my career. I went to Brazil, and all these people were screaming, ‘Você vai morrer, você vai morrer,’ which means ‘You will die.’ So I beat their hero, Demian Maia…and I said, ‘All you Brazilians are filthy animals, and your country is a dump.’ They took it personally. They put a $50,000 bounty on my head. They said I wouldn’t leave the country alive.”
UFC pesagem oficial SÃO PAULO, SP – 27.10.2017: UFC PESAGEM OFICIAL – In the Colby Covington balance during weigh-in for UFC Fight Night – Brunson vs. Machida at the Ibirapuera Gym in Sao Paulo (Photo: Reinaldo Reginato/Fotoarena) x1414024x PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRA ReinaldoxReginato
Over time, Colby Covington became one of the most controversial figures in MMA, not just in Brazil but across the United States as well. His feuds with Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier only added to his reputation as the sport’s ultimate villain. However, Covington wasn’t always this way. At one point, he was just another rising contender, quietly climbing the ranks. That all changed during the UFC’s visit to Sao Paulo. Heading into UFC Fight Night in Brazil, the Miami native held a 7-1 record, but it was his final fight under contract.
Behind the scenes, Dana White and the matchmakers had already decided he wasn’t entertaining enough to warrant a renewal. With his future in the promotion hanging by a thread, the former interim champ made a drastic move—shedding his reserved persona in favor of an over-the-top, Ric Flair-like-brash character that would make him impossible to ignore. Now, years later, Covington once again stands at a crossroads. With just two wins in his last six fights, his time in the UFC appears to be running out. And this time, there may be no reinvention—just the possibility of walking away from the sport for good.
Colby Covington’s next aim is to join WWE
At 37, Colby Covington finds himself nearing the twilight of his MMA career. However, things haven’t gone as planned since his rise in 2017. Despite carving out a reputation as one of the sport’s most polarizing “heel” figures—something Dana White often embraces, as fighters are either adored or despised—’Chaos’s recent performances inside the Octagon have left both him and his American fans disappointed. With his brash persona and elite wrestling background, what’s next for him?
A former NCAA Division 1 All-American, Colby Covington now has his sights set on a WWE transition, looking to maximize his wrestling prowess and larger-than-life character in the squared circle. Following his doctor stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley last month, the Clovis export spoke about his future ambitions: “I want to really start working on my in-ring wrestling and my crowd-pleasing ability in the next year or two. Maybe I’ll go up to Orlando and go to the WWE training center. But I want to really start perfecting my craft in WWE and the wrestling moves, and hopefully, I can make a transition in the next year or two.”
What do you think about Colby Covington’s journey inside the Octagon? Without his trash-talking persona, do you think his career would have thrived? Is WWE the right place for Colby to channel his energy and make a new mark in sports entertainment? Share your thoughts below.
The post “They Put a $50,000 Bounty on My Head” – Colby Covington Comes Clean on Getting ‘Death Threats’ as UFC’s ‘Most Hated Fighter’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.
