Colby Covington is preparing for what he believes to be a well-deserved title shot against current champion Leon Edwards in the intensely competitive UFC welterweight division. Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC), who will be the main event of UFC 296 on December 16 in Las Vegas, is not holding back when discussing how he came to win the title and drawing a stark comparison with what he believes to be Leon Edwards’ easier path.
Covington’s path to the championship match has been turbulent, with a few high-profile setbacks interspersed with noteworthy wins. Prior to their fight, he defeated Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272, which prepared him for Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC). Although some detractors contend that Covington shouldn’t be eligible for the title following his two defeats by former champion Kamaru Usman, Covington fiercely argues his case and highlights the difficulties he encountered.
Regarding Edwards’ route to the title, Covington stated in an interview with UFC.com, “He had the right matchups at the right time to get to that point in his career.” According to Covington, Edwards had to contend with a “lightweight washout in Nate Diaz” and purposefully took a break for nearly two years in order to earn his title shot. According to Covington, Edwards cried entitlement rather than earning his shot the hard way.
“After defeating that guy, I don’t think he deserved a shot at the title,” Covington said. He draws a comparison between Edwards’ strategy and his own, stressing the effort and unorthodox path he took to win his title shot. “I had to work hard for it. I was not awarded this position to challenge for the undisputed title. I needed to merit it. Because the direct route was unavailable, I had to take the detour.”
Covington’s speech is full of assurance and a sense of having triumphed over hardship. He believes Edwards will suffer the repercussions of not winning the championship shot in the same manner as Covington. “He didn’t earn it the hard way like I did, and Dec. 16 he’s going to find out that he’s going to get broken by the American dream,” Covington declared with conviction.
Covington hasn’t entered the octagon since March 2022, but there’s no denying that he loves to compete. Covington was not needed to fill in for Edwards during their title-fight rematch with Usman at UFC 286; however, the experience encouraged him to compete. The fact that fighters were avoiding him in matches only made him more determined to resume fighting.
“I’ve wanted to fight, so this sitting out bullsh*t has been tough,” Covington said. He expressed his desire to take on the top fighters in the division by mentioning names like Dustin Poirier and Khamzat Chimaev as possible opponents. Covington noted that his love for the sport was only heightened by the break and that he truly feels alive when competing in the UFC octagon.
Colby Covington’s story opens the door for a fight that goes beyond the mat, one that is a struggle of paths, a confrontation of ideologies, and a quest for validation, as UFC 296 draws near. In addition to being a bout for the welterweight title, December 16 will serve as a test for Covington’s conviction that chances must be earned the hard way. He is prepared to back up this claim against Leon Edwards.
