UFC 296: Leon Edwards blasts Colby Covington’s cruel act, ‘odd’ tactic backfires on US villain

Leon Edwards has taken aim at Colby Covington after dominating the American, who disappointed with an odd and lacklustre display.

Colby Covington finished the fight on top.

Leon Edwards has defended his welterweight title in a dominant performance against Colby Covington in the main event at UFC 296.

After twice beating Kamaru Usman, Edwards showed why he’s the new middleweight king in his second title defence.

UFC 296: Edwards vs Covington | SUN 17th DEC 2PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Covington is known for coming out firing but looked out of sorts in his first bout since March 2022.

The American was extremely tentative in the opening rounds, immediately giving Edwards the upper hand on the scorecards as the champion peppered the challenger with precise blows and leg kicks.

Covington finished the fight strong, securing a takedown and unleashing some ground and pound while on top of Edwards — but it was too late.

Edwards was awarded the victory via unanimous decision (49-46 x 3), while it is back to the drawing board for Covington after an uncharacteriscally tame display.

Speaking after the win, Edwards said he was determined to prove a point against the noted grappler and revealed his fury at Covington for speaking about his father’s death in the pre-fight press conference.

“He used my dad’s murder as entertainment ... it took a lot for me to calm down,” Edwards revealed.

“I went backstage (at the press conference) and I was crying because of the rage. To this day it still breaks my heart.”

Covington appeared to celebrate as if he had won before delivering a bizarre Donald Trump campaign speech while the former US president sat ringside.

Leon Edwards showed why he’s the champ. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP.

Colby Covington left his run too late. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Covington vs Edwards round updates

Round 1: A slow and cautious start by both fighters, and Covington will need to do much more to take the belt from Edwards.

Joe Rogan said in commentary: “This is not a typical start to a Colby Covington fight at all.”

Rogan and Daniel Cormer said if Covington continues to fight like this, he won’t have a chance of winning.

Round 2: Another uneventful round and Edwards is doing enough to stay ahead on the scorecards with precise shots.

A puzzled Joe Rogan said: “I’ve never seen Colby fight like this. It’s odd.”

Round 3: Finally some action. Covington attempted a clumsy takedown, turning Edwards upside down against the fence.

But the champion wriggled free and immediately executed a takedown of his own and landing a heavy leg kick.

It’s Covington’s first fight since March 2022 and he looks rusty.

Jon Anik noted in commentary: “It could well be Covington’s last shot at undisputed glory.”

Daniel Cormier said: “Colby’s legs are just destroyed.”

Round 4: A better round by Covington but Edwards has an answer for everything, escaping another takedown.

Round 5: Covington ends the fight with his best round, grappling Edwards on the ground and hammering away with punches but it was too little too late.

Edwards dominated the fight but the final moments saw Covington on top with some old fashioned ground and pound.

Joe Rogan said: “He’s going to win the fight but that’s not a good look for Leon.”

Colby Covington finished the fight on top. Photo: Main Event.

Leon Edwards defended his welterweight title in dominant fashion. Photo: Main Event.

Emmett’s KO of the year

The undercard has produced some absolutely brutal knockouts, with American Josh Emmett sleeping Bryce Mitchell with a right hand that might just be the knockout of the year.

Emmett was supposed to fight Giga Chikadze, but when he pulled out with injury Mitchell stepped in to take the fight.

He might be having second thoughts about that decision after Emmett connected with a sickening right hand, ending the fight in the first round with a one-punch knockout.

Mitchell lay convulsing on the canvas in frightening scenes but thankfully got back to his feet and regained consciousness.

“That sounded like a baseball bat hitting a coconut,” Joe Rogan said in commentary.

Rogan said is was as if Emmett “dropped a nuclear warhead on his head”.

Josh Emmett celebrates after knocking out Bryce Mitchell. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Josh Emmett with a huge right hand. Photo: Main Event.

MMA pundit Ariel Helwani tweeted: “Holy smokes. That’s one of the most vicious KOs we’ve seen some times. Josh Emmett just unloaded on Bryce Mitchell.

“What a picture perfect right. And Mitchell was convulsing afterwards. Damn.”

Emmett said afterwards: “I am the most powerful featherweight in the world.”

‘Paddy the Baddy’ beats UFC legend

Paddy Pimblett, aka Paddy the Baddy, has claimed the biggest win of his career against UFC legend Tony Ferguson.

The Englishman came out firing and dropped Ferguson in the first round. Ferguson somehow survived the fight but Pimblett was awarded the victory 30-27 on all three scorecards.

Paddy Pimblett beat Tony Ferguson. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP.

UFC stars come to blows in crowd

Sean Strickland and his UFC middleweight challenger Dricus du Plessis exchanged punches in wild scenes in the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Strickland famously beat Israel Adesanya in Sydney in a huge upset to take the middleweight crown and will defend his title against du Plessis at UFC 297 in Toronto in January.

After being introduced on the big screen, Strickland pretend to shoot an imaginary gun at du Plessis, who dodged the fake bullet.

The cameras cut away just as they exchanged blows and Strickland jumped back.

A child caught up in the incident is the son of welterweight veteran Gilbert Burns.

Strickland was seen calmly asking Burns’ wife and son to move aside before using their seats to leap over and attack du Plessis.

Security rushed in to stop the pair and Strickland was ushered out of the arena.

Stickland’s front row seats were right next to jiu-jitsu legend Craig Jones and Australia’s Alex Volkanovski.

Volkanovski confirmed on Twitter: “They came to blows.”

UFC 296 FIGHT CARD

Leon Edwards (c) def Colby Covington via UD (49-46 x 3)

Alexandre Pantoja (c) def Brandon Royval via UD (50-45 x 2, 49-46)

Shavkat Rakhmonov def Stephen Thompson via submission in Round Two

Paddy Pimblett def Tony Ferguson via UD (30-27 x 3)

Bryce Mitchell def by Josh Emmett via KO in Round One

Preliminary card

Dustin Jacoby def by Alonzo Menifield via UD (29-28 x 3)

Irene Aldana def Karol Rosa via UD (29-28 x 3)

Cody Garbrandt def Brian Kelleher via KO in Round One

Casey O’Neill def by Ariane Lipski via submission in Round Two

Tagir Ulanbekov def Cody Durden via submission in Round Two

Andre Fili def Luca Almeida via TKO in Round One

Martin Buday def by Shamil Gaziev via TKO in Round Two