Colby Covington: 'They didn't put the best Americans on White House card'

The UFC event on the White House lawn is rapidly approaching. The logistics have been worked out. The infrastructure is being built and the production is expected to impress. But the success of the event will ultimately depend on the fighters.The event, UFC Freedom 250, takes place on June 14 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. An American, interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, competes in the fight card's main event for the undisputed lightweight title against champion Ilia Topuria.AdvertisementThe seven-bout event features eight American fighters, but former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington doesn't think the fight card showcases the best Americans."I mean, it's the celebration of the 250th birthday of the greatest country on God's green Earth, America. You'd think there'd be more American fighters on it from top to bottom. You'd think there'd maybe be some favorable matchups for the American. But to send Gaethje out there to be slaughtered. I'm mean Topuria is the best fighter on the planet right now. No one can dispute that," Covington said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show."The way he's finishing these guys: [Max] Holloway, [Alexander] Volkanovksi, and [Charles] Oliveira. He's just on another level right now. He's in his prime and Gaethje is on his way down and there's no beating Father Time. I just feel like they could have put more Americans in bigger fights, and they didn't put the best American fighters on the card," continued Covington."They put Gaethje there. He's a good American fighter for sure, but there's other great American fighters. I'm happy Sean O'Malley's on there. He's going to put on a good show for sure. But Michael Chandler, 41, 42-year-old Michael Chandler. He's a punching bag now."