Leon Edwards makes a fool out of Colby Covington at UFC 296

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 | 10:40 p.m.

So much talk, such minimal follow through.

All the threats, insults and ridicule UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington threw in the direction of champion Leon Edwards turned out to be in vain. The British striker Edwards outclassed and at least early on, embarrassed, the American wrestler Covington Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in the main event of UFC 296.

Covington fell short in his third title shot of the last four years, and the latest — and perhaps last — one might have been the most lopsided yet. The judges rendered a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) in favor of Edwards, who’s now successfully defended the title twice.

“I knew I was a better athlete,” Edwards said afterwards in the octagon. “I mastered technique and range to shut him down. That’s what I did.”

Covington couldn’t keep up with Edwards’ speed, as the challenger’s punching combinations looked like they were in slow motion over the first two rounds. Known for his cardio, Covington did pick up steam as the fight went on and got more competitive.

But it was too late, and not nearly dominant enough.

Covington secured his first takedown in the third round, but Edwards popped back up and returned the favor with his own surprising takedown. By then, Covington’s lead right leg was reddened and ballooned from repeated leg kicks by the champion.

Covington won the wrestling portions of the fourth and fifth rounds, but none of the judges saw enough to give him any more than one round.

At the end of the fight, Covington raised his hands and motioned for the belt to be wrapped around his waist. He was acting as if he won and expressed surprise at the scorecards.

“I don’t feel like I got touched,” Covington said. “It was an easy fight. I don’t have a scratch on me."

“I thought I won the fight. It’s all perspective anyway.”

Covington tried to deflect the conversation after the loss, repeatedly shouting out former President Donald Trump who was watching him cageside instead of talking about the fight. But even a few boos were audible from the partisan Covington crowd.  

His act is wearing thin.

The top of the welterweight division may be better off without him, especially considering the way top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov performed in an earlier bout on the main card. The feared Kazakh stayed undefeated with his 18^th consecutive victory inside of two rounds, this time submitting Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at 4:56 of the second round.

Afterwards, Rakhmonov said through a translator that he was ready to fight the winner of the main event. Edwards vs. Rakhmonov will likely be a pay-per-view headliner early next year.

“I wanted to prove it, show that I wasn’t just a striker,” Edwards said. “I’m a mixed martial artist. I wanted to come out here and prove my case, show that I can grapple a grappler.”  

The belt didn’t change waists in the co-main event either. Alexandre Pantoja out-grappled Brandon Royval in a unanimous-decision victory (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to defend his title for the first time.

Pantoja apologized for a “boring” fight afterwards, but no one appeared to be bothered by his workmanlike performance.

“This is the best show in the world,” Pantoja said. “I needed to keep this belt for my family, for Brazil.”

If any fight on the main card was boring, it was the main event. And it was largely because of Covington’s hesitance to engage.

He didn’t stage the spectacle he helped build with controversial comments like making light of the murder of Edwards’ father while the champion was a teenager. Edwards teared up in the octagon and said his father’s death has continued to break his heart throughout his life.

 “This fight was very emotional,” Edwards said. “This guy used my dad’s death as entertainment. It was a lot for me to calm down and focus.”

But Edwards managed to do so, and that was all he needed to show that Covington’s ability remains no match for his words.  

Read below for full results from the rest of the card.

Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson survived all three rounds with popular prospect Paddy Pimblett, but just barely. The undefeated-in-the-UFC “Baddy” nearly knocked out Ferguson in the first round but settled for a unanimous deicison where he took every round on every judges’ scorecard.

Josh Emmett notched one of the knockouts of the year in stopping Bryce Mitchell cold at 1:57 of the first round. The veteran Emmett clocked the younger Mitchell with a right hand to the chin with the first clean punch he landed all night.

Alonzo Menifield pulled off an upset over Dustin Jacoby in a middleweight bout, using his powerful striking to win a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

In what commentator Joe Rogan called one of the best fights he’s ever seen, Irene Aldana beat Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Rosa had some early success with legkicks, but Aldana began to take over in the boxing exchanges that left both women’s faces bloodied.

Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt knocked out Brian Kelleher at 3:42 of the first round. Garbrandt has now won two in a row, and called out former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo after Saturday’s victory.

Ariane Lipsky submitted Casey O’Neill via armbar at 1:18 of the second round in their women’s flyweight bout.

Tagir Ulanbekov submitted Cody Durden via face crank at 4:25 of the second round in their flyweight bout.

Andre Fili knocked out Lucas Almeida at 3:22 of the first round in their featherweight bout.

Shamil Gaziev defeated Martin Buday via TKO 56 seconds into the second round of their heavyweight bout.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or