Pro-Trump UFC Star Rages at NFL Players, Says He Won’t Be Watching the Super Bowl: ‘I Can’t Support That’

UFC star Colby Covington claims he hasn’t watched the NFL since players began kneeling during the national anthem in protest.

Covington — an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump — appeared on a recent episode of OutKick The Morning when Charly Arnolt asked if he planned on being in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII. The 35-year-old said he hasn’t been able to support the league since that movement.

“Unfortunately, I can’t support that,” Covington said. “I lost interest in football and in sports when they started kneeling and disrespecting our flag and disrespecting all the soldiers that came before us that gave us these opportunities in America. We wouldn’t be free and have the opportunities to be professional athletes if it wasn’t for our servicemen, our veterans. Those are the people that I look up to and I respect the most.

“I’ve been so turned off by sports. I don’t follow it. I don’t care about it. No, I won’t be in Vegas.”

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines during the 2016-17 season when he was noticed sitting down during the singing of the national anthem. When asked about it, Kaepernick said it was a gesture of protest in response to acts of police brutality occurring across the country — specifically against Black people.

Kaepernick faced significant backlash for the gesture. In response, he consulted with a former Green Beret and decided to kneel as a way to make his statement while still respecting the flag.