Las Vegas, NV – Fresh off his second title defense UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards was finally able to let loose about his opponent at UFC 296.
“I feel like it was definitely one of the most emotional fights I’ve ever had to deal with,” Edwards told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“The comments that he made, but like I said I got a great support system around me and they defo got me in the right space to go out there and compete as an athlete. In my mind, in my body, I wanted to go out and have a war with him.”
Edwards’ mother and coaching staff were able to calm him down following Colby Covington’s comments about his late father.
“It was hard. Even to the weigh-ins yesterday I was like fuming and shaking, but after speaking to my mom and my coaches. Just like ‘F*ck this guy’ basically and just focus on yourself,” Edwards said.
“This is what he wants. He wants you to come out there and fight emotional and like try to swing and take you down. What he said is f*cked up, but let’s switch it all off and go out there and do your job.”
Asked if he thinks he’ll see Covington in the octagon again Edwards offered a simple, “No. Definitely not, I don’t believe so.”
It’s onto the next for the welterweight king and there is no shortage of names for him to fight next. The loudest one might be that of Belal Muhammad who was the backup for his fight, and on a 9-fight win streak.
Edwards somewhat scoffed at the suggestion.
“There are definitely other options. I don’t feel that Belal should be next. I’ve done it before. I’ve won like 10 fights in a row didn’t get a title shot. What makes him different or more privileged, you know,” he said.
“Colby’s already skipped the line already so let’s who’s next. Like I said this is ‘Rocky’s Era’. This is my era now. I’ll just keep reigning. Whoever is next doesn’t matter.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Leon Edwards above.
