Next month at UFC 296, Colby Covington will challenge Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight championship. This will serve as his third crack at undisputed gold following two unsuccessful battles with the aforementioned Kamaru Usman.
Despite losing on two occasions, both of his battles with ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ were quite close. Many would’ve loved to have seen a trilogy bout, but at this stage, it seems unlikely.
Ahead of his clash with ‘Rocky’, Colby Covington revealed how he reacted to Edwards’ now-iconic KO win over Usman
Colby Covington believes he helped Leon Edwards’ iconic knockout victory over Kamaru Usman
“My initial reaction was shock. I didn’t expect it to go like that, but I also realize that this is a sport like football, where you can land a Hail Mary, and that’s what happened,” Covington said. “He was losing the whole fight and in the last minute he landed his Hail Mary kick and it landed in the right spot. Usman made the wrong read and took his foot off the gas, and he paid the price.”
“No doubt about it, I took the fight out of Usman,” Covington said. “His chin was never the same and I’m the one that loosened up that chin. I head kicked him and had him on wobbly legs, then he calls timeout. It’s not like Leon did something that I hadn’t already done.”
Regardless of whether or not you believe him, nobody can deny that ‘Chaos’ continues to serve as one of MMA’s most controversial figures.
Colby Covington is only worried about Leon Edwards showing up at UFC 296.
Colby Covington is set to challenge for Edwards’ UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 296 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s an intriguing matchup and one the oddsmakers have Edwards as a small betting favorite.
However, Colby Covington has been adamant he will finish Leon Edwards and doesn’t think the Brit poses any challenges to him.
“The biggest challenge is if he’s going to show up or not. The guy is out here soaking up on the sidelines, playing f*****g a little Karen over there, ah feel and for me, give me sympathy, give me a year. Let me wait a year or two to fight again. The only thing I have to worry about is if he’s going to show up or not,” Colby Covington said to Submission Radio.
“No matter what boys, on December 16 I will be crowned undisputed champion of the world. Whether it’s him or the next guy in line, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m here to do the biggest and best business for the UFC, the company I love so much, the company I want to be here for the rest of my life,” Covington continued.
Although Colby Covington is worried about Leon Edwards not showing up, the Brit hasn’t pulled out of a fight since December 2020 when he tested positive for COVID-19. So, Edwards has been good at making it to the Octagon when he is booked for a fight, so the hope for many fans is the scrap does come to fruition.
Colby Covington, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since March of 2022 when he beat Jorge Masvidal by decision. Since then, ‘Chaos’ hasn’t been booked for another fight as he was holding out for a title shot, which he will get in December.