MMA fighters celebrated ringing in the New Year in various ways. Some spent the time with family, others in the gym, and others just went to bed early.
Former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington spent New Year's Eve with Former United States President, Donald Trump.
Covington lost his title shot at UFC 296 when he was dominated for five rounds by the champion, Leon Edwards. Trump was sitting cage side, and Covington felt that his support of the controversial former president was why he lost the fight to the judges.
"They hate me because I support Trump," he alleged while appearing on Jesse Watters Primetime after the fight. "If it's in a judging position, in a fight or any type of athletic sporting event, they're going to stack the deck against us, so it's a sad time in our country, but we the people need to rise up, and we can't let this keep us down," he said.
He also campaigned for a rematch against Edwards, which we all know he's not going to get.
"I deserve it," Covington said. "You know, I think I broke my foot in the first 30 seconds of the fight, kicking it on his elbow, so I want a rematch with this guy. I'm going to come back stronger. I'm just like the American people. You know, we never give up, you can knock us down, but we just learn. We don't lose, we only learn. We come back stronger," he said.
Happy New Year from Mar-a-Lago 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/EmNWuzeVeZ
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) January 1, 2024
Here's how other MMA fighter's celebrated the New Year.
SI SUPIERAS TODA LA MAGIA QUE TE ESPERA ADELANTE, NO TE DOLERIA TANTO DEJAR ATRAS LO QUE YA NO FUNCIONA.
— Tracy Cortez’s ERA (@TracyCortezmma) January 1, 2024
Que pinche año tan cabron 🥹🙏🏽❤️
Happy new years ❤️ Feliz año nuevo hipta
2023 recap pic.twitter.com/WJz1QdtdYA
Happy New Year 👊🏽 Blessed with another year 🙏 I want to sincerely thank all my partners and supporters of last year and look forward to what we can achieve next year ! Gracie Jiujitsu Smeaton Grange, Musashi Nutrition, Rival Sports Management, Kaplan Homes, @UNIBETAustralia… pic.twitter.com/OeDi9t03oW
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) January 1, 2024
2024 inshallah I will be a champion 🙏🏾
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) January 1, 2024
Happy New Year!!! Hope everyone had a safe & fun night. Another NYE we didn’t even make it to 10:00pm
— JOSH EMMETT (@JoshEmmettUFC) January 1, 2024
New Year 2024 ✨ pic.twitter.com/o5FdlNFtyr
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 1, 2024
Today we turn the page into a new year. 2023 had ups and downs but I was blessed to see it through. Allahumdullilah for everything. 2024 We Elevate! pic.twitter.com/GOAnouJHB1
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) January 1, 2024
#workoutoftheday start your 2024 off on the right foot.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) January 1, 2024
-
Walk On.
-
See you at the top! pic.twitter.com/uZx1SiAOHP
Happy New year! Wishing you all a great 2024!
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) January 1, 2024
Feliz Ano Novo! Desejando a todos vocês um excelente 2024!
Happy new year ⚡️⚡️⚡️🙏⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/ukrZVc6lwL
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) January 1, 2024
2023 fucked me in the ass but the good thing is it wasn’t that big of a year
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) January 1, 2024
Happy new year 🫶🏽 pic.twitter.com/p5MjbNrk6E
— Johnny Walker (@JohnnyWalker) January 1, 2024
Happy New Year ALL 2024 ! Many blessings and success to all. Don’t let em steal your happiness !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) January 1, 2024
Happy New Year!
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) January 1, 2024
2024 be a good one 🥂 pic.twitter.com/LJJXJqQJA5
2024 year of the champion.
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) January 1, 2024
Gettin after it tonight 🤪 happy new year y’all 😄🙏🏼🎉 pic.twitter.com/40IkYg2bdP
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) January 1, 2024
This year is my best year…..
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) January 1, 2024
Happy new years everyone! #march
— Erick Gonzalez 👻🌶 (@GhostPepper_UFC) January 1, 2024
Happy new year my friends!!!!
— Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues (@gregory_mma) January 1, 2024
#2024 #ROBOCOP pic.twitter.com/UNlKVhayEU
Happy New Year 2024! 💪💪 #JairzinhoRozenstruik #BigiBoy #Suriname pic.twitter.com/0vJYyp7vcD
— Jairzinho 'BIGI BOY' Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) January 1, 2024