Read about the controversy surrounding Colby Covington’s comments ahead of his UFC 296 title shot against Leon Edwards. Get the latest updates on the highly anticipated event at T-Mobile Arena.
| Fighters | Colby Covington, Leon Edwards, Alexandre Pantoja, Brandon Royval, Tony Ferguson, Paddy Pimblett |
|---|---|
| Key Points | Colby Covington’s crass comment about his opponent’s late father |
| Leon Edwards’ reaction and physical altercation | |
| UFC 296 welterweight title fight between Covington and Edwards | |
| Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight belt against Brandon Royval | |
| Tony Ferguson’s return to the lightweight division against Paddy Pimblett | |
| Event details and fight schedule |
Colby Covington’s Controversial Comments
Colby Covington, the welterweight title challenger for UFC 296 , has stirred up controversy with his crass comment about his opponent’s late father. The highly anticipated event is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
Covington and his opponent, Leon Edwards, engaged in a heated exchange at the final news conference leading up to the fight. Covington’s comment about Edwards’ father, who was tragically murdered in 2004, sparked outrage and led to a physical altercation between the two fighters.
This incident is just the latest in a series of distasteful remarks made by Covington. Despite his controversial persona, Covington has gained popularity and success in the sport.
Edwards, the reigning champion, has not lost a fight since 2015 and is determined to defend his title against Covington. The Jamaican-born fighter won the welterweight belt in August 2022 and has since been on a winning streak.
In addition to the title fight between Covington and Edwards, UFC 296 will feature other exciting matchups. Alexandre Pantoja will defend his flyweight belt against Brandon Royval in a highly anticipated rematch. Pantoja, who won the title in July, is looking forward to facing Royval again.
Another intriguing bout on the main card is Tony Ferguson’s return to the lightweight division. Ferguson, who has suffered a six-fight losing streak, hopes to turn his luck around against Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett. Pimblett, known for his brashness and impressive winning streak, sees Ferguson as a challenging opponent.
The main card of UFC 296 will begin at 7 p.m. on pay-per-view, with preliminary fights starting at 5 p.m. on ESPN2. The early prelims can be watched on ESPN+ at 3:30 p.m.
