If it feels like it’s been a long time since you heard from Colby Covington, you’re right. The former UFC interim welterweight champion and two-time title challenger has not entered the Octagon since defeating Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision in March 2022. He’s been relatively out of the spotlight since.
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It’s a strange phenomenon for fans as Covington is known as arguably the most hated fighter in the sport. In recent years it almost felt like you couldn’t go a week without hearing him insult someone, talk about how he’s Donald Trump’s favorite fighter or post something controversial on his social media feeds. Since that win, however, Covington has seemingly taken a step back from the drama.
But all good things come to an end.
The brash 35-year-old, whether you want him or not, is again back in our lives. Covington (17-3) has returned true to form ahead of quite possibly the last title shot of his career, this time a meeting with undisputed welterweight champion Leon Edwards (21-3) in the main event of UFC 296 in Las Vegas.
“I’ve been anointed and celebrated as the people’s champion, as America’s champion, as the king of Miami and most importantly Donald Trump’s favorite fighter,” he told The Athletic this week. “Saturday night I can finally celebrate as the undisputed champion. It’ll just be a great day for destiny.”
Colby Covington defeated Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision in March 2022 (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)
When asked about the long layoff between fights, Covington says he’s been ready — it’s just that his opponents weren’t.
Covington said the UFC told him they were working on a bout with rising star Khamzat Chimaev for months but later pivoted to try to line Chimaev up with Nate Diaz to “let him get an easy fight.” The promotion then attempted to match Covington up with former UFC interim lightweight champion and teammate at American Top Team Dustin Poirier but that also fell through.
Covington was the backup fighter for Edwards versus Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 in March, though they both made weight. And now we’re finally here.
“Everybody wants the Colby Covington show,” he told The Athletic. “They know what Colby Covington brings to the Octagon. They know what he brings to the media. They know he’s one of the most entertaining and electrifying fighters in the game. And they know he’s an all-time great. So of course they want to see me fight. But I can only fight the fights that the UFC gives me. And I’ve accepted every single fight, which is why I’m in this position in the first place.
“I’ve never turned down one fight in my career. I beg to fight the best guys in the world. The No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter after No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. You got to realize the UFC is a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company. They can’t defraud investors and just give me any bum fight. They had to give me fights that make sense and that sell PPVs. So this isn’t my fault.”
Edwards has fought twice since Covington’s last cage appearance, two monster wins against a former pound-for-pound great in Usman. The first ended with one of the greatest KOs in UFC history, a head kick finish in the final round with him trailing by all accounts. The second was settled on the scorecards in a majority decision where Edwards showed off his elite kickboxing skills.
Despite being on a long winning streak, Edwards entered both of those matchups as a heavy underdog. He admitted to hearing many fans call his knockout a fluke. But both times he emerged victorious and proved that he’s the best the division has to offer. Edwards said he’s ready to prove himself once again against Covington.
“I’m focused on the best Colby there is, and I think even the best Colby cannot beat me,” he said. “He’s in for a rude awakening if he’s judging his confidence off his last fight. Masivdal was already a washed fighter when he beat him. Robbie Lawler, when he beat him five years ago, was already done. Everyone he’s beaten in his last five fights has all been washed and on the back end of his career. He’s going against a young guy that just turned 32 years old. I’m growing in confidence, bigger, stronger and going to take him out.”
EDWARDS AND COVINGTON FACE TO FACE 🔥@Leon_EdwardsMMA and @ColbyCovMMA fight for the welterweight world title Saturday at #UFC296!
[ 10pmET / 7pmPT | Live on @ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/IvTeJHHuOl ] pic.twitter.com/JAXyCBwd3j
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2023
If and how that happens will be intriguing.
Edwards is a deadly striker who has the skill set to finish you anywhere. Though he’s a precise puncher, his specialty is attacking your leg until mobility is severely limited. Take the last Usman fight, for example, where he landed 50 leg kicks to his opponent’s six.
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Covington knows his best bet is taking this fight to the ground. He was an All-American wrestler and two-time Pac-10 champion at Oregon State. While he has stand-up skills (and has come out on top of slugfests), Covington is likely to shoot for takedown attempts Saturday in hopes of ground-and-pound.
“I’ve been wrestling my whole life,” Covington said. “No matter how much everybody tries to hype up (Edwards’) takedown defense, there’s things that he doesn’t understand that I learned when I was a little kid in diapers. Just positions, rolling around, scrambles, double-leg takedowns. When we get into some of those positions, he’s going to break.”
Edwards scoffs at that notion. No, he doesn’t have the same wrestling accolades, but he showed against Usman — a former NCAA Division II national champion — that he’s capable of defending himself in those areas. Usman only landed four of his 15 takedown attempts in their last meeting.
“They can use the same thing over and over again but I’ve faced guys that are bigger and stronger than Colby and I’ve managed to go out there and get the win,” Edwards said. “As far as the grappling part goes, I’m definitely better on the mat with my jiu-jitsu. I think my mixed martial arts wrestling is just as good as his. And I’m looking forward to going out and showing it and dominating anywhere the fight goes.”
UFC 296’s matchup carries major implications for the future of the welterweight division. Edwards has a chance to solidify his status among the pound-for-pound best with a decisive win over arguably the most disliked fighter in the sport. Awaiting him could (finally) be a title fight against longtime challenger Belal Muhammad, who is on a five-fight win streak.
It is even more critical for Covington. At 35, questions loom over how much he has left in the tank. And considering this will be his third championship fight, another loss might just be his final shot at gold. UFC President Dana White has historically been less inclined to give title shots to contenders who have consistently failed when it mattered most.
Covington is not even considering that possibility.
“Sometimes your path is harder because your calling is higher,” Covington said. “It’s been a rough path for me that I’ve been down. But now we’re here right where destiny wants me to be.”
(Top photo: Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
