- Covington angered Edwards at the press conference with a grim remark about his late father
- READ: How Edwards rose to the top and overcame adversity and tragedy
- Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett MUST seize his moment in the UFC 296 spotlight after his career stalled – The Hook
Colby Covington's vile remark about Leon Edwards' murdered late father threatened to cause chaos at the UFC 296 press conference.
Britain's Edwards sat in Las Vegas with his American rival Covington to give a pre-fight speech, but things got personal in the middle of the open event at the MGM Arena.
“I’m taking you to the seventh layer of hell,” Trump supporter Covington told Edwards, adding: “We’ll tell your dad what’s going on while we’re there.”
Edwards' demeanor quickly changed and he threw a water bottle at his rival, who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap and also dressed as George Washington.
The bottle struck Covington, causing both fighters to immediately stand up to face each other before security intervened to separate them.
Colby Covington arrived at the UFC 296 press conference on Thursday afternoon in costume
Things went sour between the two when Covington made a joke about Leon Edwards' father
British fighter Edwards remained quiet until Covington made an awkward joke about his late father
Covington's taunts at the press conference were largely light-hearted, if occasionally tasteless, until he went way over the mark.
Edwards immediately threw a water bottle that hit the American's stomach, jumped up and tried to get to his opponent, whereupon security quickly intervened.
Covington then continued, “Little shit.” As an Ultimate Feeling Champion, he is not an Ultimate Fighting Champion. You'd better prepare the tissues.'
The crowd then began chanting “USA” before Covington said, “1776 baby.” That's the American Revolution. “General Washington started it, General Covington is finishing it.”
Edwards' father was shot dead in a London nightclub when the MMA star was just 13 years old. “Rocky” has since said he believes the killer's motive was a dispute over money.
Edwards grew up with his mother and recalled being told the tragic news about his father as a teenager.
Edwards, pictured here (left to right) with his sister, mother and grandmother, calls his mother the biggest influence on his life and she took care of the family as a single mother
Edwards and Covington faced off before their big main event at UFC 296
He said, “It was probably around 2 a.m..” I was in my room. Mom was in her room. We hear the phone ringing. I heard her crying and knew something bad from then on, you know?
“At one point she came into my room and told me that your father had just been killed in London.” It had something to do with money. I don't know exactly what. It was crazy, but I knew it could happen.
“It messed me up.” It pushed me more into gang life and crime, towards the negative. “My mid-teens were my darkest years,” he said.
Edwards is usually incredibly cool, but apparently Covington's grim mockery was over the top and got the reaction he was undoubtedly looking for.
“Keep the same energy behind the scenes,” he told the challenger for his welterweight title.
Edwards is the current welterweight world champion and has not been beaten in eight years
At the start of the press conference, Covington had lashed out at Edwards, saying, “Of course you don't know what I'm about to do, you haven't even graduated from elementary school.” You're a damn idiot, literally I'd like to know what your level of education is you have.
“I am the people's champion.” I have a question for the people. Did you come here to support those red coat bastards?'
Edwards said: “Of course you can miss Colby because of how he's dressed. “He's a decent fighter but that's not going to save him on Saturday night.”
