UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards believes Colby Covington’s recent wins are weak.
Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will look to notch his second title defense when he meets Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in the UFC 296 main event on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
Covington’s most recent wins have come over Jorge Masvidal, Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler – all who are no longer active UFC fighters.
“Like I said, this is his fourth title shot. I feel like he knows this is his last one,” Edwards told UFC Europe. “As far as what’s on the line for me, how long it took me to get it, so I feel like we’ve both got a lot to prove in there. So, I am 100 percent focused for the best Colby. I know he’s been out for almost two years come December.
“But, I just can’t see what he goes in there and does. I’ve been the active one. I’m the younger one. He hasn’t beat no one under the age of 35, 36 since I don’t know. If you’re judging his wins off Robbie (Lawler), Woodley and Masvidal, he’s in for a total shock what’s going to happen on fight night.”
Unbeaten in his past 12 fights, Edwards is unfazed by Covington’s antics and trash talk. He vows to take him out.
“He’s always playing a character, and some of the sh*t he’s coming out and saying just doesn’t make sense to me,” Edwards said. “He’s like, I’ll come back for the war that happened in America. I was like, ‘Mate, I don’t even know what you’re on about.
“I think that guy is a clown. But I am focused on going out there, taking him out, defending my belt for a second time, just carrying on my journey. He’s just another guy that’s in my way, and I’m going to take him out.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
