“Tryna Improve His Public Image”: Colby Covington Faces Backlash from UFC Fans for Filming Himself Helping a ‘Homeless’ Man

Smrutisnat Jena | 04/01/2025
Colby Covington (red gloves) fights Joaquin Buckley (blue gloves) at Amalie Arena.

Colby Covington, who filmed himself helping a seemingly ‘homeless’ person, is being called out for using the underprivileged to up his PR game. In the video streamed on Twitch, Colby was seen providing some food, water and a sweater to the man, while wishing him a “Happy New Year”.


Fans were quick to point out that Colby should have done this without recording and sharing it to advertise his generosity. “Tryna improve his public image,” commented one fan.

Another fan put it succinctly, saying, “This is great don’t get me wrong, but when it’s truly from the heart, you don’t need to film these things. The real ones do things in silence… We live in a look at me society today. Sad.”

One follower attributed the behavior to his lack of wins inside the octagon: “Can’t gain aura from his fights anymore so guess bro had to pivot.”

“‘Was seen’ yes. That’s what happens when you film yourself,” wrote a fan.

However, some still believed in Covington, with one user writing, “I wish he didn’t put the di*khead persona on because he’s a nice guy behind it all”.

Regardless of how it is being perceived, this act is still much better than what Michael Chandler did when a supposedly homeless man asked him for advice on how to turn his life around.

When Chandler advised a ‘homeless’ person

To say Chandler’s reply was insensitive would be a gross understatement. His comment, “First step: Stand up and be thankful you have feet,” invited much ire at the time.


Chandler’s advice didn’t stop at how the homeless person could help themselves. When another man asked him what he should do about his racially abusive neighbor, the former Bellator champion advised “silence”.

This triggered a barrage of jokes in the comments section. Some people asked, what he would advise next and wrote: “Mike, what’s step 2?” Others offered even simpler solutions for homelessness and commented sarcastically: “If you are homeless, just buy a house. Yes its very simple! You’re welcome”.

If things were that easy as maintaining silence, then Chandler would have been able to do better about that Conor McGregor fight he’s been waiting for. It’s been more than two years now.

Post Edited By: Jatin Hasija
Colby Covington

About the author

Smrutisnat Jena

Smrutisnat Jena is a UFC Editor with The SportsRush. With 8 years of experience under his belt, Smrutisnat has had a career that has travelled through the multiverse of journalism, be it politics, entertainment or satire. But as a practitioner of amateur wrestling, his true love has always been combat sports. After being introduced to Chuck Liddell at the age of 8, working with MMA has always been THE goal for him. When he's away from work, Smrutisnat likes hanging out with dogs, and sparring with his teammates at the local gym, often simultaneously.

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