COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Colby Covington claims he’s given a verbal agreement to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 244 in November. However, he said the reigning welterweight champion still hasn’t committed.

Covington (15-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) was confirmed as the top contender to Usman’s (15-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) belt following his one-sided victory over Robbie Lawler at UFC on ESPN 5 this month. UFC president Dana White said it will happen this year, and the Nov. 2 event at Madison Square Garden in New York appears to be the perfect fit.

It hasn’t been made official, though, and Covington insists it’s all because of Usman.

“I’m ready to go,” Covington told MMA Junkie. “I already gave the verbal ‘yes’ to the UFC that I’m going to go to Madison Square Garden and make it great again because the Knicks have tarnished the legacy of Madison Square Garden. It’s disgusting what they’ve done to that arena. It’s nothing but Ls. There’s only one man that can go to Madison Square Garden and make it great again and that’s yours truly.

“Sign the paper, Marty. Stop faking injuries, stop ducking me. This is a joke man. This is getting out of hand now.”

A fight between Covington and Usman has been brewing for several years. They are both atop the 170-pound division now, though, and pairing them with a belt on the line is seemingly the most logical option for the weight class. There’s no shortage of personal animosity there, as well.

Covington said he’s not going to wait around for Usman forever, though. He said he’s fighting at UFC 244 come hell or high water, and if Usman isn’t prepared to put the belt up for grabs, “Chaos” said he will move on to somebody else.

“I would accept other fights,” Covington said. “I already have a title. This is America’s title, this is the people’s title. This is the most distinguished belt in the UFC today. Whether it’s Nick Diaz, whether it’s Nate Diaz the journeyman who is barely a .500-level fighters, they’ve got Stockton slaps but they ain’t ready for MAGA-bombs. Those guys have speech impediments. They don’t know what wrestling is. They have lisps in their voice.

“Whether it’s the Diaz’s, whether it’s my best friend (Jorge Masvidal), whether it’s Marty Fakenewsman, this belt will be defended Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden because that’s what Donald Trump wants.”

The matchup between Covington and Usman is intriguing because of the likeness between the two sides. They hold nearly identical records, share several common opponents, come from wrestling backgrounds and are known to carry a pace in the octagon that opponent struggle to keep up with.

Covington said he doesn’t see Usman anywhere near his level, though, and he simply just wants the chance to make the fight happen so he can prove it.

“He’s a D-2 level fighter, he’s a D-2 level college wrestler,” Covington said. “I’m D-1 in everything. I’m the top of the food chain. He’s never going to see the top of the food chain. I don’t even know why we’re talking about it. Marty Fakenewsman, he’s been ducking me in the early part of his career and now he’s doing the same thing.

“(I will win by) first-round knockout. He’s getting put to sleep. I promise you that. He’s leaving that octagon in a stretcher. I’m putting him unconscious. I couldn’t train my last fight for Robbie Lawler because I had a cut in my eye. Wait until you see me with a full training camp. Anyone that wants to doubt me, they’re going to find out Nov. 2. I will knock him out first round.”