26 March 2023 , 09:54
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UFC President Dana White has insisted that Leon Edwards must fight Colby Covington in his next welterweight world title defence, despite the Brit's repeated protests.
Covington, who last fought over a year ago when he defeated Jorge Masvidal, was in London to weigh in as a back-up fighter for Edwards' trilogy bout with Kamaru Usman. And he has been rewarded for the late-notice weight cut by being awarded the next world title fight at welterweight despite his lack of wins over top contenders.
The American is a former interim champion at 170lb, but lost both of his undisputed title fights against Usman in 2019 and 2021. However, he is considered one of the most impressive wrestlers in the division, and White believes that Edwards may not want another test against a grappler after back-to-back meetings with the legendary former champion.
Asked at a press conference last night about Covington's lack of activity inside the octagon over the last year, White snapped back: “Well, he got jumped and was actually injured from that. Leon didn’t fight for almost two years. He got the shot. Listen, it’s not like I’m a big, ‘Oh Colby, Colby’. Colby Covington deserves the shot at the title and I don’t blame [Leon Edwards].
"Leon just got through Usman twice and he’s looking at another wrestler with a funky style. That’s tough to deal with, but that’s it. When you become the champ, everybody’s coming after you. All the straight killers are coming at you for the next three times a f***ing year. You’re faced with nothing, but the baddest dudes in the world in your division."
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The promotion clearly had a promo set up between the pair when Covington showed up at cageside in London, but Edwards shot down the idea during his post-fight interview. And in the days following the bout, he has maintained his stance on fighting his rival during multiple media appearances, insisting that he hasn't fought enough top contenders.
Leon Edwards may be forced to fight Colby Covington next (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Who do you want Leon Edwards to fight next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
And Edwards would prefer to face Masvidal, provided he can get past Gilbert Burns in Miami on April 8. The pair have had an ongoing feud for the last four years dating back to a physical altercation at UFC London in March 2019, but Masvidal has been on a losing streak since the pandemic and hasn't won in over three years.
"I don't know how Colby makes sense," Edwards said. "He hasn't fought for more than a year and a half. There are other active guys in the division. I'm the king now, I've earned my way and should decide who is next. Pay-per-view wise if Jorge Masvidal beats Gilbert Burns, that's the fight to make.
"I had to fight 12 times for a title shot and he [Covington] said he didn't know who I was. I'm the king, I'll decide who is next. Masvidal, I don't like him so that's the one I want. I think it would be an easy fight for me, he's a weirdo. Colby hasn't been fighting, not injured either so how does he deserve it. There's no storyline for the Colby fight, it's weird."