“I had to earn it,” Colby Covington unleashes fury claiming Leon Edwards cried his way into title shot against Kamaru Usman

Colby Covington slams opponent Leon Edwards' legitimacy of shot at Kamaru Usman, saying he did not deserve it fully.


“I had to earn it,” Colby Covington unleashes fury claiming Leon Edwards cried his way into title shot against Kamaru Usman

Colby Covington cues in rivalry with Kamaru Usman, to berate UFC 296 opponent Leon Edwards (X/IMAGO)

Colby Covington is to return to the fighting scene and welterweight spectrum, very soon. The former interim welterweight champion and 170lbs contender has not fought for over two years. After facing Jorge Masvidal, at UFC 272 in March 2022, the duo got into a heated feud. The latter had attacked Covington outside a steakhouse, after the matchup.

The dispute has, however, been resolved somewhat amicably since then. Now, leading up to their next matchup, Covington has weighed in on UFC 296 opponent, Leon Edwards, and past rival Kamaru Usman.

Despite an elongated delay from fighting, Covington is to face Edwards, in the main event of UFC 296 in Las Vegas, on Dec. 16. This marks for a third undisputed titular bout in his career. Meanwhile, Edwards has defeated Covington’s two-skid rival, Kamaru Usman. Speaking to UFC.com, Covington said:

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He had the right matchups at the right time to get to that point in his career...He fought a Lightweight washout in Nate Diaz and sat out almost two years to get his title shot. I don’t think he warranted getting a title shot after beating that guy. He just cried, ‘I deserve this, I deserve that,’ instead of just going out there and working for it or earning it like I did. I had to earn it the hard way.
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Since becoming champion in Aug. 2022, Edwards made a successful title defense. During that bout, he again stopped Usman, winning by way of a majority decision at UFC 286, on March 2023. Part of the reason for Covington’s inactivity is the Edwards vs. former champion Usman pairing last year. His willingness to play the role of backup fighter for the trilogy in London, England, has been cued in for his title shot.

Covington further mentioned accepting bouts against Khamzat Chimaev, Dustin Poirier, and others, advancing towards this goal. He affirmed that sitting on the sidelines only made him more hungrier for such a shot.

Official poster releases for Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington UFC 296

The combat sports community closes out the year on a positive note at UFC 296. Colby “Chaos” Covington is to make his much anticipated in-ring return. He faces off against UFC welterweight champion Leon “Rocky” Edwards, for a 170lbs bout. Alongside, Alexandre Pantoja tests the mettle for his flyweight gold, in a rematch against rival Brandon Royval.

Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington fight card, at UFC 296, gets official poster release
Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington fight card, at UFC 296, gets official poster release (Source: X)

The Dec.16 event, at Las Vegas, promises to be stacked with more action. The final pay-per-view card of the year also entails Shavkat Rakhmonov squaring off against Stephen Thompson. Alongside, Tony Ferguson also faces Paddy Pimblett. An official poster of the fight card has already seen release, preceded by the announcement of the same.

The event takes place at the famous T-Mobile Arena, at Las Vegas.

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