Report: Werdum fined $600 over boomerang incident with Covington
UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum has been fined $600 Australian - around $460 USD - for a November altercation with welterweight Colby Covington that occurred outside a Sydney hotel, Australia's 9 News reported Friday.
The 40-year-old was charged with common assault for throwing a boomerang at Covington on Nov. 16, with the matter resolved in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday despite his failure to appear.
The incident came mere days before Werdum's date with Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 121. In a video captured by UFC lightweight Dan Hooker, Werdum and Covington exchanged words before the former threw the boomerang at the latter. The New South Wales Police Force laid charges the following day.
Covington caught the tail end of the altercation on video in which he called Werdum an anti-gay slur and alleged the Brazilian had punched him in the face. Werdum later claimed Covington had instigated the altercation and that he'd slapped the welterweight's phone out his hand before Covington kicked him in response. The 29-year-old Covington - who'd drawn much scrutiny for derogatory comments regarding Werdum's native Brazil the previous month - has since maintained it was Werdum and longtime coach Rafael Cordeiro who'd confronted him with death threats before things spiraled out of control.
Werdum competed on the card, defeating Tybura by unanimous decision in the bill's main event.