Leon Edwards brother Fabian has explained that Colby Covington's inactivity "doesn't sit right" after the American walked into a world title shot after a year out of action.
The UFC welterweight champion would rather face a more active contender like Belal Muhammad, with whom he has unfinished business from their first fight. But promotional boss Dana White has now on multiple occasions insisted that Covington, whose last win was over Jorge Masvidal back in March of 2022.
And speaking ahead of his own No.1 contender fight, Leon's brother Fabian has said that it's the former interim champion's lengthy period without a fight that concerns them. The bout will now likely take place later this year, with Edwards saying he'd like to fight in Abu Dhabi this October instead of July in London.
"It's what they [the UFC] do, isn't it? Mad stuff like that," Edwards joked during an exclusive chat with Mirror Fighting ahead of his fight with Gegard Mousasi on May 12 in Paris. "As mad as it is, that is what they do so like my brother said he's champion and regardless of what the challenge is he'll be ready for it.
"Even if the guy doesn't deserve it Leon will be ready because he's No.1. You've got Dana there saying 'if Usman wasn't there Colby would have been reigning over the division so they obviously have a lot of respect on him, which I suppose a lot of people do as well.
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"Regardless of the challenge, when you're the champ you take the challengers and you get rid of them. You have to respect everyone but it doesn't mean that he deserves it. In terms of deserving it, if he went out and done two more fights and got on a little streak then he would.
"He'd be welcome to it, but the whole point that everyone is missing out on is that he sat out for like a year. He chose not to fight and now he's trying to step back in for a title, that's what doesn't sit right with us."
The promotion had lined Covington up as a potential replacement fighter for the Brit's trilogy bout with Usman in London last month. He made championship weight for the bout in a surprise appearance but was not needed on the card in the end as both fighters also hit 170lb and fought to a tight decision at the O2 Arena.
Watch Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards live on BBC iPlayer from 5pm BST on Friday, May 12, from the Accor Arena, Paris.
