Leon Edwards will make his second title defence this Saturday at UFC 296, when he takes on controversial contender, Colby Covington.
The Brummy’s first title defense came back in March of this year where he was once again victorious over former welterweight king, Kamaru Usman. For that fight, “Chaos” weighed in as the back-up, cementing himself as the next challenger.
On the build up to this monumental main event, Edwards has admitted that he doesn’t like Covington, making for a grudge match. At the UFC 296 media day, the 32-year-old explained his dislike.
“I don’t hate him, I don’t know him like that to hate him. I hate the character that he’s playing, I find it strange that a grown a** man is walking around with another grown a** man on his clothes, it’s just a weird thing. I don’t get it because obviously we’re from different parts of the world, but if that’s his thing, that’s his thing and fair play to him.”
Edwards mentioned on the lead up that he wants to ‘retire’ Covington, and believes that his performance on Saturday night will showcase why Covington isn’t in the upper echelon of the division anymore.
“He’s already turned down all the younger guys coming up, he’s turned down everyone that the UFC has offered him and sat out for two years, so now I can’t see him winning the belt and then fighting all the young up and comers, I just can’t see it happening. I think when someone like that gets stuff just handed to them so easily all the time that he feels like he can do that. After I beat him I truly believe he’ll either retire or move down (weight classes).”
Watch the full UFC 296 media day appearance from Leon Edwards above.
