Tag: Colby Covington

Finally nailing down a date for their long-awaited grudge match, undisputed welterweight champion, Leon Edwards is slated to headline UFC 296 against former interim division titleholder, Colby Covington.

Taking main event honors at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 16. – undisputed welterweight kingpin, Edwards makes his return after snatching bragging rights in a March trilogy rubber match against common-foe, Kamaru Usman back in March.

As for Clovis native, Covington – the former interim titleholder returns for the first time since he settled a firey grudge match with former training partner, Jorge Masvidal back in March of last year in a shutout unanimous decision win.

Leon Edwards and Colby Covington headline UFC 296 in title grudge match

And as per UFC CEO, Dana White – Edwards and Covington, who have been on a distinct collision course since March, will now meet for the welterweight championship at UFC 296 atop the promotion’s final flagship event of the year.

Furthermore, UFC 296 also sees the addition of an exciting undisputed flyweight title fight between newly-minted champion, Alexandre Pantoja, and the surging contender, Brandon Royval – with that pairing set to take co-headlining status.

First winning welterweight gold with an earth-shattering fifth round high kick KO win over the aforenoted, Usman back in August of last year, Edwards would then turn in a close, majority decision win over the Auchi native in March atop a London pay-per-view card.

Himself snatching interim welterweight gold back in 2018, Covington defeated former undisputed lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos, before he was eventually stripped of the interim title due to inactivity.

Twice fighting common-opposition, Usman during his Octagon tenure, Covington first dropped a fifth round TKO loss to the Nigerian, before dropping a subsequent rematch decision loss to the Nigerian former pound-for-pound number one. 

UFC 296 takes place on December 16. from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada – with Leon Edwards’ welterweight title defense against Colby Covington taking main event honors ahead of a flyweight title clash between champion, Alexandre Pantoja, and challenger, Brandon Royval. 

Can Leon Edwards land another title defense in his December clash with Colby Covington?

Undisputed welterweight champion, Leon Edwards is apparently “ready to go” and defend his divisional crown before the year’s end against former interim champion, Colby Covington, however, is still waiting for an offer to cross his desk from the UFC.

Edwards, the incumbent undisputed welterweight titleholder under the banner of the promotion, most recently headlined UFC 286 back in March in London, England – defeating former pound-for-pound number one and ex-champion, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s trilogy rubber match.

As for Covington, the outspoken Clovis native himself has been sidelined since early last year, on that occasion returning to the winner’s enclosure after a title challenge loss to Usman in the pair’s rematch, in a one-sided decision win over arch-rival and former training partner, Jorge Masvidal.

And whilst the pair have yet to officially book their respective Octagon returns against each other, reports have suggested all summer that the promotion would attempt to pair them at UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden, if not at UFC 296 in December in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Leon Edwards “ready” for end-of-year fight with Colby Covington

However, according to Leon Edwards’ manager, Tim Simpson, the Birmingham native is “ready” to fight Covington, but an offer has yet to be extended by the organization.

“It’ll be before the end of the year,” Tim Simpson told Submission Radio. “I guess the two cards left are November and December, and they’re finalizing those. Leon is good, he is ready to go, waiting for the call. From my understanding, Colby (Covington) is ready to go, as well. So it’ll be one of those two.” 

At the time of publication, UFC 295 features a heavyweight championship fight headliner between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic in November, however, UFC 296 has yet to receive an official headlining clash – potentially leaving space for Edwards’ return grudge match with Covington. 

Who wins between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington?