UFC president Dana White has been candid about making mixed martial arts as a sport that is big enough to rival other leagues like the NFL or the NBA. Even before the company’s deal with ESPN was finalized, White was already expecting MMA to be “taken to the next level” through this new broadcast partnership.

But for Colby Covington, getting to that level of prominence would not be possible, as he once again connected it to him being passed over for a title shot against Tyron Woodley.

“They wanna be legitimate like a f—ng sport, like NFL, like NBA, you can’t be legitimate when a team wins a championship and you don’t let them go to the championship game,” Covington said in a recent guesting on BJPenn Radio (via BJPenn.com). “I don’t give a f—k. If you’re in the NBA, you win the Eastern Conference Championship and you’re LeBron and the Cavaliers, you’re going to the motherf—ng ‘ship.

“It doesn’t matter if David Stern doesn’t like you, you’re going to go to the championship. This isn’t a sport no more, it’s a joke, it’s a circus, it’s being run by a bunch of bozos. You got Uncle Fester (Dana White) up there, up top in his power position and it’s just a complete joke.

“If this is a legitimate sport when you win the conference championship, you go to the championship,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter if the promoter hates the f—ng coach or hates the manager.”

Covington says he was intending to have a dialogue with other promotions about possible deals, but is unable to do so because of his UFC contract. With that in consideration, he once again demanded for his release from the company.

“I wish I could talk to Bellator but I can’t do that. I’m under UFC contract, I would never breach my contract,” he said. “I’m the true professional. I did everything UFC asked, always f—ng made weight, always on time at their events, flew all over the world, went to Australia, their show, sold it. Went to Singapore, went to Brazil, went to wherever they wanted me to go. I did everything, I’m an ultra-professional. And as a professional I wouldn’t breach my contract.

“I’m not allowed to talk to other promoters about fights because I’m in UFC contract. So, that’s what I’m saying to the UFC, like, come on motherf—ers, you guys think you’re so tough then let’s see how tough you are. Release me man, I don’t need you guys. If you guys think you’re so tough and try to think that I’m not worth anything and you don’t need me then release me.

“Let’s see it man, let’s see how f—ng big your balls are.”

White already responded to Covington’s previous comments, blaming the American Top Team fighter for not grabbing the opportunity when it was presented to him.