In the aftermath of UFC 296’s main event on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Colby Covington, the former UFC interim welterweight champion, addressed his actions leading up to the fight against Leon Edwards. Despite losing in a unanimous decision, Covington didn’t shy away from expressing himself at the post-fight press conference held at the MGM Grand.
During a press conference that took a dark turn on Thursday afternoon, Covington directed some pointed words at Edwards, even going so far as to make fun of his deceased father. When questioned about these remarks, Covington swiftly dismissed any concerns, attributing it to the nature of the sport.
In response to the backlash, Covington stated, “Not at all. There is no character. I’m a guy that just turns it up to 11.” He emphasized that he remains unfazed by public opinion, whether it’s positive, negative, or indifferent. Covington, committed to delivering the best for the UFC, proudly announced his enduring presence in the organization after recently signing a new contract.
“I don’t care what people think of me, man,” he asserted. “You can hate me. You can love me. You can be indifferent. It makes no difference. I’m here to do the biggest and best business for this company [the UFC]. I love this company. I just signed a new contract with them, so I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Colby Covington Defends Character
Despite three losses in championship fights over the last four years, Covington believes he hasn’t reached his full potential. He expressed confidence in creating more special moments and leaving a lasting legacy in the company. According to him, the best is yet to come.
Addressing the judges’ decision that favored Edwards with all three scoring it 49-46, Covington shared his perspective on the match. “I did [think I had done enough to win the fight],” he said. “I thought the third, fourth, and fifth round were mine. The fifth was mine easily. The fourth I thought was mine as well, too. You know, I thought I did enough in the third.”
Covington also introduced a theory for his loss, attributing it to what he believes is political bias. “The judges have never favored me,” he claimed. “They hate me because I support Trump, and, you know, everyone hates Trump in this building. So, you know, it is what it is. Life goes on.”
Although he has yet to speak with the former president, Covington expressed his intention to contact Trump and convey his gratitude for attending the fight.
With this defeat marking three losses in his last five fights, Covington acknowledged the need to regroup and reassess his position to climb back into title contention. The former UFC interim welterweight champion now faces the challenge of returning to the drawing board as he seeks to redefine his path in the competitive world of mixed martial arts.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
