The UFC 296 news conference in Las Vegas took an unpleasant turn when Colby Covington made a repulsive comment about Leon Edwards’ late father, stating he was “in hell.” Edwards, whose father was murdered in 2004, reacted angrily, throwing a bottle at Covington, leading to a security intervention. The fighters were separated, but tensions remained high.
Covington, known for his brash and outlandish persona, continued to taunt Edwards, dressed as George Washington, referencing the American Revolution. Edwards, typically composed, retaliated by throwing a bottle, and a verbal exchange ensued before security intervened.
Despite the heated incident, Edwards stated that the comments didn’t make it personal but warned Covington to “keep the same energy backstage.” Edwards is set to defend his welterweight title against Covington on Saturday.
The news conference also saw Covington insulting various fighters, including Tony Ferguson, Stephen Thompson, and Ian Garry. The majority of Edwards’ audience reception was negative, while Covington received cheers and applause.
The undercard features Paddy Pimblett’s return after a year, facing Tony Ferguson. Liverpool’s Pimblett, recovering from ankle surgery, expressed readiness to make a statement, while Ferguson aimed to end a six-fight losing streak. The news conference saw verbal jousting between Pimblett and Ferguson, adding intensity to their upcoming bout.
Read more: Pakistan: 23 soldiers killed in attack on army base
2 Comments