“Dressed like a f**king drag queen” – Colby Covington’s George Washington outfit mocked by British champ Leon Edwards at UFC 296 press conference

UFC 296's press conference turns heads as Leon Edwards reacts to Colby Covington's George Washington costume, leading to heightened tensions and controversial exchanges between the fighters.

“Dressed like a f**king drag queen” – Colby Covington’s George Washington outfit mocked by British champ Leon Edwards at UFC 296 press conference

Leon Edwards on Colby Covington's choice of attire (Image via: YouTube/UFC, X)

The UFC 296 press conference delivered fireworks, as fans expected. Colby Covington was, as expected, the star of the show. In addition to his trash talks, he also dressed up for the press conference. Covington dressed up as George Washington, even with the wig that drew a hilarious response from champion Leon Edwards.

One of the media members asked Edwards to comment about Covington’s choice of attire. This is what Edwards replied:

The guy comes here dressed like a drag queen, you know? I don't know what he's trying to go for, but fair play to him.
Leon Edwards via UFC 296 pre-fight press conference
YouTube video

Edwards attributed the attire to that of drag queens, which did not go well with Covington. Covington used Edwards’ comments against him. He said that Edwards’s lack of knowledge of Washington was due to his lack of education. Nevertheless, it was the last time Edwards was cordial with Covington. Covington would later reference Edwards’ dead father in a trash talk that upsets Edwards.

FS Video

Covington dressed like George Washington to bring the America vs. Britain angle to the fight. He has long referenced the fight at UFC 296 to the 1776 Declaration of Independence by Washington. Interestingly, he found an ally in Tony Ferguson for the angle. Like Covington, Ferguson’s opponent at UFC 296 is a Brit, Paddy Pimblett.

Colby Covington went off at NMF Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 press conference

Leon Edwards was not the only fighter who had to deal with Colby Covington’s offensive trash talk. Covington even went off at Stephen Thompson, one of the nicest fighters in the UFC.

Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson attended UFC 296 press conference
Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson (Image via: X)

Covington had previously attacked Thompson, who is facing Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296, by joking about his nickname ‘Wonderboy.’ However, this time, Covington had a different mode of verbal attack. This is what Covington said about Thompson.

I've got to be honest. Steven shouldn't be on the top 10 list. He shouldn't be on the pound-for-pound list. But he should be in that list that all the community knows about. I'm not saying he's a pedophile, but man, he checks all the boxes.
Colby Covington via UFC 296 pre-fight press conference

Thompson and his father run a Karate school in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Moreover, he picks up his students from school and takes them to the Karate school on his bus. The video of Thompson driving kids on his bus was featured in the UFC embedded episode. Covington used that against Thompson. Nevertheless, Thompson did not take Covington’s comment to heart and was jovial onstage.

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