UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington fight updates and results tonight
Re-live the action after Britain’s Edwards defended the welterweight title against the controversial American
Leon Edwards retained the UFC welterweight title with a clinical performance against Colby Covington on Saturday, easing to a points win in Las Vegas.
The Jamaican-born Britan showed off his superiority in the striking exchanges and even out-grappled the wrestling specialist for periods of the fight, which headlined UFC 296 at the T-Mobile Arena.
The controversial Covington, 35, is famed for his offensive wrestling and relentless pressure, but he was surprisingly inactive against Edwards, 32. The champion was able to pick off the American at range, while denying the majority of Covington’s sporadic takedown attempts.
In one of Edwards’s most impressive moments, he stuffed a takedown before nailing Covington with a head kick, before proceeding to take down his challenger – as if to make a point.
Covington, who had ex-US president Donald Trump supporting him from ringside, was able to employ his grappling more effectively in the fifth and final round, ending the fight on top. However, it was too little and too late for the American, who was beaten 49-46 on all three scorecards.
Re-live updates and results from the prelims, main card and main event of UFC 296, below.
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
Watch what Edwards had to say after beating Covington, regarding the American’s comments about Edwards’s late father:
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
Who’s next for Edwards? Shavkat Rakhmonov? Belal Muhammad?
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
A look back at the co-main event, which also saw a successful title defence!
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
That’s three shots at the undisputed UFC welterweight title for Covington, and three losses.
Where does the ex-interim champion go from here?
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
Covington: “I had a long lay-off, I think that had a bit to do with [the poor performance].
“I want to shout out all the first responders and Donald Trump, he’s gonna make America great again. Trump 2024!
“I feel great, it was an easy fight. I barely have a scratch on me.”
He vows to come back in early 2024.
UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
Edwards: “This was an emotional fight for me. This guy used my dad’s death as entertainment, my dad’s murder as entertainment. I tried to just shut it down.
“After the pres conference, I went backstage, I was crying. To this day, it still breaks my heart. [Covington] said [my dad] should burn in hell.
“He’s a great competitor but a dirty human being.”
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