UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will vie to defend his crown for the second time against challenger Colby Covington this weekend at UFC 296.
Overlooked, underrated and shunned for far too long, Edwards is now finally getting the recognition and credit he deserves. This most violent of sports moves quickly, but the Jamaican-born Brit has endured a slow rise to the top. He paid his dues, stuck to his guns and now deservedly sits at the summit of the welterweight division after that head kick knockout that reverberated around the world.
Let’s look back at how this real life Rocky story unfolded.
Leon Edwards’ Journey to UFC 296
After his loss to former champion and pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman back in 2015, Leon Edwards was still relatively unknown. It was his second defeat in four fights in the UFC, but ‘Rocky’ would go on to firmly put that loss in the rear view mirror in regards to his career.
Over the next four years, Edwards went on an eight-fight winning streak. On this run he took out the likes of Vicente Luque, Donald Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson and Rafael dos Anjos. Despite the impressive streak it still seemed as if Edwards was somewhat flying under the radar. Fans weren’t taking to him and the UFC were reluctant to consider him as a serious title contender.
Maybe the spotlight remained elusive for him due to his introverted nature or the lack of finishes during his victories. Edwards, a technical savant and a sharp, powerful striker, did not let this affect his progress.
‘Rocky’ was then matched up with the rising talent Belal Muhammad. However, in round two, Edwards caught Muhammad with an accidental eye poke and the fight was deemed a no-contest after Muhammad could not continue. He may have been undefeated, but Edwards needed a big moment to put himself on the MMA map and get his shot at gold.
The Turning Point
Leon Edwards, not one to shy away from any fight, took a bout with veteran and star Nate Diaz. Edwards won handily by unanimous decision and the biggest name of his career was added to his resume. Even so, Diaz provided the moment of the fight in typical Diaz fashion in the last 30 seconds when he rocked Edwards with a punch and almost finished him. Edwards held on for the win, but frustratingly for him, the fight will mostly be remembered for that one moment.
Edwards was finally given a title shot against Usman off the back of the Diaz win. The agonising wait was over and this was his chance. Just when it seemed that he had resigned to defeat against Usman in the final round, Edwards landed a pitch-perfect head kick knocking the champion out cold. He had done it. Written off time and time again, working hard and waiting for his chance, he had now reached his goal. He silenced the doubters that night and solidified his status as only the second British champion in UFC history.
He went on to defend his title by decision in the third fight against Usman. This was proof that the title win was no fluke. Four years before this, Edwards was booed by his own fans and is now regarded as a hero. His magical story is filled with bravery, resilience and redemption and he should be considered as one of the greatest British mixed martial artists of all time.
UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
Some eyebrows were raised when this matchup was announced. Covington has not fought since his win over Jorge Masvidal in March 2022. Before that he lost to Usman in a unanimous decision. The American turns heads though, and his character means that people will tune in to his fights.
As long as this remains standing, Edwards will have the advantage. His striking is clean, accurate and technically sound. His clinch striking game is one of the best in the UFC so if Covington pushes the pace and closes the distance as he likes to do, he may find himself on the end of knees and elbows when the fighters tie up. Edwards will look to make good use of the under hook against the cage to stop a takedown attempt. He can then turn, secure a collar tie and unleash these shots especially on the break.
Covington will have moments as he seeks a takedown, but Edwards’ defence in this department has been solid so far. Edwards’ wrestling and grappling is underrated, but he will need to be aggressive here at times in this bout.
Expect more drama and fireworks in this welterweight title fight.
Who will come away victorious at UFC 296? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
