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Leon Edwards claims title fight with Colby Covington ‘Makes no sense’ following UFC 286 victory

Undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has claimed that an immediate championship fight against former interim titleholder, Colby Covington simply makes no sense for him next, off the back of his successful homecoming at UFC 286. Headlining last night’s pay-per-view event in London, England – Edwards managed to retain his welterweight crown with a close, […]

Headlining last night’s pay-per-view event in London, England – Edwards managed to retain his welterweight crown with a close, majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) victory over former champion and three-time opponent, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s trilogy title rubber match.

Scoring his thirteenth consecutive victory under the Octagon banner since his first outing with Usman back in 2015, Edwards initially weighed up a title defense against either Gilbert Burns, and Jorge Masvidal – while also receiving a call out from lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev for an Abu Dhabi flagship event in October.

However, mapping out Edwards’ future, UFC president, Dana White confirmed former interim champion, Covington would fight the Birmingham native next – with the latter calling for a UFC 290 matchup during International Fight Week in July.

Leon Edwards rebuffs potential title fight with Colby Covington next

Sharing his thoughts on the potential bout, Edwards questioned how a bout against the Clovis native made logical sense.

“I don’t know how that [fight with Colby Covington] makes sense,” Leon Edwards told assembled media following UFC 286. “He hasn’t fought in over a year-and-a-half – he sat out un-injured. I just don’t get how he just slides in for the world title shot when there are other guys in the division who have been active, fighting and didn’t sit out.”

“So, like I said, I’m in the king now – I’ve earned my way,” Leon Edwards explained. “I feel like I should decide who’s next, so, yeah. …I had to work – 12 fights to get there, you know. When I was trying to get my title shot, he was saing, ‘Who is he?’ And ‘I don’t know who he is.’ Now, I’m the king. Now he is allowed to just jump the line and jump straight in? Like I said, I’m the king, and will decide who’s next.”

Leon Edwards’ Win at UFC 286 Sets Up Exciting Possibilities in Welterweight Division

Leon Edwards’ Saturday night win over Kamaru Usman marked the beginning of a new chapter for the UFC welterweight division—and not just because it cemented…

Dana White confirms Colby Covington will challenge Leon Edwards for title after UFC 286: ‘He deserves the fight’

Dana White has confirmed that Colby Covington will be the recipient of yet another UFC welterweight title opportunity. On Saturday night, Leon Edwards successfully defended his title against former titleholder Kamaru Usman via a majority decision at the O2 Arena in London. Following his second-straight win over ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ in UFC title fights, the […]

Dana White has confirmed that Colby Covington will be the recipient of yet another UFC welterweight title opportunity.

On Saturday night, Leon Edwards successfully defended his title against former titleholder Kamaru Usman via a majority decision at the O2 Arena in London. Following his second-straight win over ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ in UFC title fights, the focus immediately turned to who would be next to challenge ‘Rocky’ for the 170-pound crown. We didn’t have to wait long for an answer as the UFC president revealed that Covington would be the next man up for a title shot.

“He deserves the fight,” White responded when asked if Covington would be Leon Edwards’ next opponent.

The reveal is not all that surprising considering Covington’s surprise status as the official backup for UFC 286’s main event. On the flip side, Covington is 2-2 in his last four fights with the two losses already coming in UFC title fights against then-champion Kamaru Usman. His only victories have come against Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal, two fighters who have become immune to getting into the win column in recent years. Of course, modern-era UFC title fights are more about marketing than rewarding a fighter who has earned it through winning.

Dana White confirms Colby Covington will get the next title shot against Leon Edwards after #UFC286.

"He deserves the fight."

— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 19, 2023

Colby Covington Plans to Put Leon Edwards in a Pine Box

Even before Dana White’s confirmation that he would challenge Leon Edwards, Colby Covington was setting the tone for what is sure to be an intriguing buildup. In an interview with TheMACLife on YouTube, ‘Chaos’ made it very clear that he wanted the main event spotlight with Leon Edwards and has zero interest in competing against “prelim fighters,” a clear dig at streaking contender Belal Muhammad.

“This is not a game. This is a business,” Covington said with conviction. “We’re looking to make money for this company. I’m not here to do charity support for prelim fighters. I’m here to fight the biggest and the best fights that the UFC has to offer and I’m hoping Leon Scott wins tonight because I would like to fight him. I’d like to send him in a pine coffin just like the Americans did in 1776 against the English.”

Despite being known as a decision machine inside the Octagon, Colby Covington has become a popular figure among fans for his outlandish persona that has heavily leaned on the characteristics of political conservatives. His association with former President Donald Trump made him immediately loved by millions while simultaneously hated by millions more. Whether you love him or hate him, chances are you will pay to see him fight. Either to see him win or to see him lose.

Colby Covington is not deserving of a UFC title opportunity, but business is business, and just as Covington said, the UFC is in the business of making money.

Islam Makhachev calls for welterweight title fight with Leon Edwards after UFC 286: ‘I want him next’

Undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has called for the opportunity to avenge his Dominance MMA stablemate, Kamaru Usman following his UFC 286 title trilogy rubber match loss to Leon Edwards tonight in London – seeking an October welterweight championship bout in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Makhachev, the undisputed lightweight champion, defended his crown for the […]

Makhachev, the undisputed lightweight champion, defended his crown for the first time back in February of this year at UFC 284 – besting featherweight gold holder, Alexander Volkanovski in a close, unanimous decision victory.
As for Edwards, the Birmingham native bookended his rivalry with former champion, Usman tonight – landing himself an even closer majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) victory over the Nigerian on home soil in England.

Recovering from a third round point deduction following a fence grab after a takedown attempt from Usman, Team Renegade BJJ & MMA mainstay, Edwards took the fifth and final round against the former – swaying the scorecards in his favor in the capital.

Receiving an immediate offer of an International Fight Week return at UFC 290 in July, Edwards dismissed a championship outing with former interim welterweight titleholder, Colby Covington.

Islam Makhachev calls for title outing with Leon Edwards in October

Weighing up a potential grudge match against the victor of next month’s welterweight matchup between Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida – Edwards has also now received a call out from lightweight kingpin, Makhachev in the immediate aftermath of UFC 286.

“I want Leon (Edwards) next, October in Abu Dhabi (closed fist emoji,” Islam Makhachev tweeted.

Talking his fighting future at lightweight recently, Dagestan grappling ace, Islam Makhachev also pointed his interest in a potential rebooked title fight against the surging, Beneil Dariush – who challenges soon-to-be common-foe, Charles Oliveira at UFC 288 in May in Newark, New Jersey.

Leon Edwards Defeats Kamaru Usman by Majority Decision at UFC 286

The word “fluke” and Leon Edwards can’t be thrown around anymore. Rocky retained his UFC welterweight championship and earned legitimacy with a majority…

Leon Edwards retains title, defeats Kamaru Usman in debated majority decision win – UFC 286 Highlights

Leon Edwards remains the undisputed UFC welterweight champion off the back of tonight’s UFC 286 headliner with former titleholder and three-time opponent, Kamaru Usman — defeating the Auchi native in their trilogy rubber match in a close, majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) victory in the main event at The O2 Arena. Edwards, who had stopped […]

Edwards, who had stopped Usman’s dominant title reign back in August of last year with a stunning fifth round high kick KO win in Salt Lake City, Utah — was forced the distance for the second time against the ONX Labs trainee, following a 2015 decision loss to Usman.

Defending his welterweight crown for the first time, Edwards was deducted a point the second round of tonight’s headliner with Usman — grabbing the Octagon fence to defend a takedown in the sophomore frame.

Extending his undefeated run at the welterweight limit to 13 consecutive fights, Edwards brushed off an immediate title defense against former interim champion, Colby Covington — who was in attendance in London, weighing up a potential return against either Gilbert Burns, or Jorge Masvidal — who fight next month at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida.

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