Murdered father sledge sparks UFC 296 chaos
Controversial challenger Colby Covington was dressed as George Washington, but the jokes went out the window during his UFC 296 press conference.
Covington, well known for his questionable behaviour, sat side-by-side with UK welterweight champion Leon Edwards on stage, with his comical appearance setting the scene for a light-hearted media gathering.
But it didn't take long for Covington to rattle the cage, when he made a derogatory comment about a rival UFC fighter's wife, but it was his below the belt about Edwards' father that left many shaking their heads.
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Edwards, hailing from Birmingham but born in Jamaica, has often spoken of the adversity he faced as a youngster. Edwards' father, a gangster, was killed in a London nightclub when the champion was just 13. He faced considerable challenges as a result and nearly lost his life to crime before turning to MMA when he was 17.
(UFC)Covington provoked Edwards on stage when he suggested, during the fight, he would be "bringing you to the seventh layer of hell".
He then added: "We'll say "what's up" to your dad while we're there".
The comment sparked an immediate reaction from the champion, throwing a bottle at Covington's face before announcer Jon Anik and security had to get between them.
A fuming Edwards continued to try and get past security but was blocked.
The contest is Edwards' second defence of his title after beating Kamaru Usman earlier this year, while Covington is fighting for the first time since a win over Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.
Edwards pointed to the fights already lost by the third-ranked challenger , most notably falling short in two previous shots at the belt. But, Edwards acknowledged, that will mean little this weekend at UFC 296.
Even announcer Jon Anik had to step in. (UFC)“We’re here now and all that matters is Saturday night, going out there and taking him out," Edwards said. "I’m focused fully on that. Whether he deserves it or not doesn’t matter because he’s fighting anyway for the belt and that’s my aim.”
Before security jumped in, Covington, wearing a jacket with “Make America Great Again” on its sleeves and a photo of former President Donald Trump on the back, made sure to get Edwards' attention at the pre-fight news conference.
He questioned the champ's intelligence and heart, and said the Jamaican-born Edwards (21-3) insulted British fans by not taking this fight on English soil.
The 35-year-old Covington (17-3) said he looked forward to Trump, who is expected to attend, putting the championship belt around his waist after the fight.
“It’s going to be a spectacle," Covington said. "It doesn’t matter who they put in there Saturday night. They could put the Hulk in there Saturday night, and nobody’s beating me in front of Donald Trump.”
Security got in between the pair after the offensive comment. (UFC)Mostly, Edwards, 32, didn't appear to take any bait from the insults Covington hurled his way, chalking much of it up to pre-fight hype.
“Everyone knows he’s playing like a character," Edwards said. "It’s easier to take someone like that as a joke. That’s what I’m able to do, take it as it is. He’s a clown and I’m going to treat him as such.”
As for Covington the fighter, Edwards pointed out he has lost multiple ways — submission, technical knockout, unanimous decision.
“He's not as good as everyone thinks," Edwards said. "He's a normal fighter that's more scrappy, basically. Me and the team came up with a great game plan to neutralise what he's good at, and my aim is to go in there and take him out.”
Covington will enter the octagon for the first time since March 5, 2022, a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal. This is only his fifth bout since 2019.
“I'm not the same fighter I was the last time I stepped in the octagon," Covington said. "Saturday night, you're going to see a completely different version of myself, and I'm going to out-class Leon. I'm going to bring out the dog in me, and I'm going to bring out the quitter in Leon.”
The flyweight title is on the line in the co-main event between champion Alexandre Pantoja (26-5) of Brazil and second-ranked challenger Brandon Royval (15-6) of Denver.
The two met Aug. 21, 2021, with Pantoja choking out Royval in the second round. But Royval then won three consecutive fights, the last two in the first round, to set up the rematch.
