UFC 296: Press conference descends into chaos after shocking slur at dead dad

A MAGA-hat wearing fighter dressed as George Washington nearly sparked an onstage brawl at a UFC 296 presser with comments about his rival’s dead dad.

The UFC 296 press conference descended into absolute chaos after welterweight title challenger Colby Covington took a classless swipe at champion Leon Edwards’ dead dad.

The outspoken Covington rolled into the presser dressed as George Washington and wearing a Donald Trump-signed Make America Great Again hat, and immediately took over the show.

Covington hit out at Edwards’ level of education, got into a shouting match with lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson and made lewd comments about rising star Ian Garry’s wife.

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But it was a comment about Edwards’ dad – who was shot and killed 18 years ago – that set England’s Edwards off.

“You might be the stupidest guy in the UFC roster and on Saturday night, I’m going to take you to a place you don’t ever want to be,” Covington shouted. “I’m gonna take you to the seventh layer of hell.

“We’ll say what’s up to your dad while we’re there.”

Edwards immediately threw his water bottle at Covington and tried to attack him.

Leon Edwards (L) and Colby Covington (dressed as George Washington) are separated by security. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Five burly security guards rushed the stage and separated the pair until tensions eased.

“The guy’s a piece of s***,” Edwards said moments later. “Make sure you keep that same energy backstage.”

The welterweight champion refused to answer any more questions about his dad or about Covington’s comments.

“He’s the ultimate feeling champion,” Covington said. “He ain’t no Ultimate Fighting Champion.

“Guys you’d better get the Kleenex tissues ready. This is the American Revolution. General Washington started it, General Covington ends it.”

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas crowd broke out into chants of, “USA, USA, USA.”

Covington dressed at the first US president, and wearing a MAGA hat signed by Donald Trump. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

After the press conference, Edwards needed to be restrained by two security guards as the pair faced off while directing a string of insults at each other.

Born in Jamaica, Edwards’ parents relocated to London when he was a kid in an attempt to escape the crime, drugs and gangs in Kingston.

Edwards, nicknamed ‘Rocky’, says his dad was involved in “questionable activities” in England, and was shot and killed at a nightclub in London when Edwards was just 14.

After flirting with gang life, Edwards found MMA, eventually making the UFC and scoring a fifth round knockout win over Kamaru Usman in one of the biggest title fight shocks of 2022.

Leon Edwards threw a bottle and had to be restrained after Colby Covington made a comment about his late father at the #UFC296 presser. pic.twitter.com/CZ7wjPSfpt

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 15, 2023

Covington has a long history of pushing the boundary, and has lived up to his reputation all week.

The 35-year-old is bringing Trump to the fights on Saturday, and wants the former President to wrap the belt around his waist if he wins.

“I’ve got the most famous person on the planet coming to watch on Saturday night,” Covington said. “Donald Trump saved America.

“I love my country, I love Donald Trump, he’s the greatest president in American history and he’s going to make America great again in 2024.”

Originally published as UFC 296: Press conference descends into chaos after shocking slur at dead dad