Leon Edwards Reacts to Beating 'Coward' Colby Covington, Doesn't See Belal Muhammad Next | UFC 296

UFC 296 winner Leon Edwards spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters post-fight after his welterweight title defense over Colby Covington on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Full fight recap: mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/1...
Be sure to subscribe to receive updates when we post new content: bit.ly/3YstIQd
For the latest UFC and MMA news: mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Part of the USA TODAY network: www.usatoday.com
#UFC296 #UFC #LeonEdwards

[@theallamericannightmare4163]

Congratulations 👏 Leon. As a American. Im sorry for what Colby Covington said about your father. That's way overboard and disrespectful.. glad you got the win. Keep doing your country and family proud 🙏🏻

[@goodsolonius7305]

"I don't get how that's selling the fight" Dana comes on and straight up says they sold 25% more pre buys after the press conference

[@donlean2164]

@@goodsolonius7305 Dana also said he was not happy at all with what colby said

[@kryhmeworld1843]

​@@goodsolonius7305Dana also says PowerSlap is the biggest thing in the whole universe

[@kevwarburton7102]

leon edwards is an absolute classy bloke he in my eyes is a gentleman who can back himself up aswell well done champ

[@J_liiio]

So he wants Shavkat next? If I was Leon I'd start beefing with Belal lol

[@aidanalariccross]

I'm so glad Leon won that fight 👏🙌

[@delmarreyna]

Leon such a class act!

[@shrektheogre2853]

Belal gets the next title shot stop running leon

[@aboodthebest7726]

Also belal is next . Leon doesn't call the shots . With all do respect for leon of course

[@Salnts1]

Exactly Leon acting like he didn't get a title shot beating washed LW RDA and was let off the hook by washed up journeyman Nate. Belal clearly beat better competition before a title shot than Leon did.

[@AfroClicksHeads]

Colby.. you cant walk someone down for 25 mins on the backfoot 😭😭😭

[@ableton909]

Colby losing in front of Trump...embarassing

[@sakama40]

Belal next no other

[@simonbanks3058]

Well done sir. Such a loveable champ. Colby on the other hand well and truly showed what a scumbag he is.

[@abudujana13]

Thanks for the video, MMA JUNKIE

[@damowantswealth]

Man poor belal cant catch a break 😅

[@g_aypeoplearetrash]

Who?

[@iMixMaSteR1]

He's a boring fighter.

[@bilmo7427]

that fight was one of the most boring main events lol@@iMixMaSteR1

[@Salnts1]

​​@@iMixMaSteR1Snoozington is more boring yet he got 3 title shots💀. Before Leon's hailmary kick everyone said he was boring too

[@aaronrubalcava7810]

​@@Salnts1they ain't racist like Belal though

[@Nick-vs8wl]

America is rooting for ya Leon, Colby is a clown show. Absolute disgrace. Congratulations Leon!

[@Matt-uk8dv]

Take the UKs nuts out of your mouth and support American fighters

[@aboodthebest7726]

Colby is a joke 😂😂😂

[@lisacollins5923]

Belal earned it! If Colby can get there with a lose to Usman and 2 year layoff...then what the problem?!!!

[@eusoffchan2004]

Leon is sour because he went on a 10 fight win streak and still didn't get a title shot But it can only be between Belal and Shavkat, I don't think there is anyone else

[@OneGamblor]

He’s boring and a slim.

[@defsahnmusic2755]

BELAL MUST BE NEXT!

[@lajuan9860]

Belal next love it or hate it

[@jlj777]

From the start when they both was introduced Colby realized how big and long Leon was then when they grappled a little he was over overwhelmed of the strength and power at that point he knew he was damned aka:damned /damd/(in Christian belief) condemned by God to suffer eternal punishment in hell. WOWSERS for talking bad about dead people.

[@LukeyCKsMaxedOutCreditCards]

Very strange comment.

[@Boeing2018Yagoua]

Trully a hall of fame

[@bobered4911]

if you don't see belal as next you're scared to fight, sorry but there's no other reason lmao

[@luskcovers2811]

Idk man, if it’s not Belal it’s Shavkat who is 100x scarier then Belal. I think Leon just doesn’t respect Belal or something because I’m sure he knows Shavkhat is next if he doesn’t fight Belal.

[@LoneWolfe_XX]

You lost me right there Leon saying Belal doesn’t deserve it. Even you deserved it at your time when you were on a 10 fight winning streak. And at least Belal beat a top 5 opponent to solidify his standing to be next. No offense you beat a Nate Diaz who wasn’t even top 5 nor 10 and you got the title shot so come on be real

[@kigrey3994]

Maybe lackluster but it’s not Leon’s responsibility to push action in a “defense” where he even took Colby down. Leon kept his composure, showed class, and maybe once and for all silenced Covington. Respect the champ 🏆 👑

[@-Denisa-]

Edwards vs Muhammad 2 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@casamir1]

Bracing myself for another year long Leon layoff as he comes up with reasons why contenders don't deserve to fight him

[@TiberiusHassius]

Wtf Bilal 100%.

[@lolly_bread]

Leon is a Class A person and MMArtist.

[@woodyharrelson2624]

Leon, your father who is in Heaven seated at the right hand of the Father paid attention to your fight during the rounds you landed more leg kicks, and during your victory speech. You’ve completely avenged him and he is VERY proud of you. A Win is a Win! Head Shot Bang! Let’s goooooooo

[@Moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymonee]

Na bro Colby is a POS for that insult, but let’s not go there… his father is def not in heaven

[@smsun1030]

Good only knows the unseen

[@otomarjupiter45]

He has nice spot at seventh’s cloud just next to Kim Jong Il and Jeffrey Dahmer.

[@Serpentis666]

You’re typing into a comments section… Leon edwards will never read this…🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[@iMixMaSteR1]

Drug lordss in heaven? lmao wtf you on?

[@spakjoeXD]

He's Colby, he's going to hug you forever m8

[@jimmieleepatterson]

I think Colby was more interested in selling the fight than actually winning it. He's relatively unknown and wanted to get the trumpanzee crowd on his side. My impression is that he's probably not that good

[@bennyhotsteppa9388]

Ok groomer.

[@jimmieleepatterson]

@bennyhotsteppa9388 Yes! By USAF. How you'd guessed?

[@bennyhotsteppa9388]

@@jimmieleepatterson Like that means anything.

[@Thomas-jz2vs]

Leon has the eyes of a Hitman... Some people are dangerous from far away..

[@gregoryjack8827]

They force that monster shit onto scene. He didn't even grab the bottle when leaving. Big ups to "sytlebender" for keeping it 💯!

[@kardave2848]

Leon has everything except how to be an "a" hole! Controversy creates fights!

[@etherthedragon2273]

Who cares like that's selfish thinking. People tune in but he's fighting for him and his family not you

[@RS-kz3gj]

This guy earned this.I didn't think Colby could win this fight.He doesn't have the power to mix it up with Leon.Colby needed to be first in the take downs to have a chance

[@unsub6737]

Leon went back to his roots, putting people to sleep 😴 A reminder why he was The Belal before Belal.

[@TheIbanez101]

Leon 100% Edwards

[@HubCityProduct]

100% 😂

[@fatihfatih1694]

Funny to hear Leon about being active. He waited for over a year for his title shot, even after getting almost ko'ed by average fighter Nate Diaz. Belal must be next

[@JakeM25]

Fight or vacate. Idk why they act like they have a say in who fights for the belt

[@alexanderleonidas1089]

They do dummy,the champion gets offered 3 fights every year just like any other fighter,if they refuse to fight the title fight won’t happen

[@aboodthebest7726]

​@@alexanderleonidas1089 he will get striped then . Leon isn't a mega star like mcgregor. He doesn't call the shots

[@JakeM25]

@@alexanderleonidas1089 Who else is going to get the title fight then 🤡?

[@Jon--Jones]

So the question they should ask Leon is Was it worth an extra 25% increase in pay? The buys shot up mid conference after the father comment

[@iseaflames]

The answer would probably be no in my opinion. I don't think money can really ease emotional pain

[@WeHateHackers_pt2]

LE: "hes a coward and will always be a coward; kids are out of it; parents are out of it..(off limits)" Stranger: 'It wasn't me' ME:

[@r.a.7161]

What? Touch grass weirdo

[@WeHateHackers_pt2]

👀

[@ibnuisra968]

Leon vs shavkat

[@sysabian8332]

I will be totally honest, I really thought that Colby was gonna roll over him. 20 sec into the 2nd, I knew it was Leon full ahead. Leon showed text book how to fight thru an adversary who just talks too much stupid shit hoping to get somewhere. Leon straight humbled a man who totally prides himself with a no humility shit tlk brand that will forever be tainted and deflated. I love how Leon stays true to his character post fight. He made Colby the poster boy for what happens when a fighter does all the wrong things and is made an example due to how much Colby's tongue made way for his own demise. FLY LEON FLY!!!!

[@nocmmahun]

If he doesnt see Belal next, so who? Shavkat? I think he needs to stay with the Belal fight 😅

[@ezzio8611]

We wont see Leon til Fall time he doesnt seem to want to clear out the division and be a active champion he just wants to sit on the belt

[@user-fi2bq2bn3i]

Rocky - Leon Edwards - what a great man & father & son & a great friend & one heek of a great human being....&.... I'm so happy for you that U got to get that peace on shit that was stuck to your foot in this 2'nd defence of your title -- cock shitington ... Your great role model 👍

[@bibassegaf]

Want run again? Run against on fire fighters, and just fight with rotten one. Run to Burn, run to Belal now, but you can't run to Shavkat. Interim champion

[@hazea.6061]

Belal is next

[@tuffneggah]

he wants money fights. belal aint it

[@Godly_Nose]

Leon will be a boring champion if he doesn’t fight top guys with win streaks, if he beat Belal and shavkat too that could be what he needs to be considered a dominant champion since those guys beat everyone already.

[@brycerunyan889]

Beating Kamaru TWICE? LOL

[@paderborn84]

Your era till shavkat comes to you

[@ProtossHyrdalisk]

You really think that after his wonderboy performance? 😂😂😂 He’ll never keep Leon down.

[@aaronrubalcava7810]

​@@ProtossHyrdaliskShavkat does have the skills to beat Leon

[@C23287]

I wish Leon was the American 🇺🇸

[@supermegaguy666]

Boring fight, Belal must be next.... even though that could very well be as boring

[@mikehush8828]

And still..👍🏼💪🏼..!! that other guy in the cage, no skills, big mouth so boring..!!

[@diazd4263]

💯💣💥❤

[@90ritesh90]

Leon is a good guy but his father was a criminal and thats why he was killed. Leon himself said that in joe rogan show.

[@fatihfatih1694]

No one defends his father. The point is, that you don't talk about peoples dead family members.

[@thenotrap1736]

Was Leon's father a criminal?

[@ChristianBale-ks8nm]

yep

[@Kats0unam1]

Any Colby fans in the chat now ?

[@woodyharrelson2624]

Leon the deadly sniper couldn’t put rusty Colby away after he insulted the man’s dead father in the worst way, after not fighting for 2 years.

[@dexho1457]

I would say the fight seemed a bit close because Leon took him down, but Colby threw volume strikes. However, this is Colby’s third title fight where he failed to capture the title. The second that final bell rings and you haven’t finished your opponent, you’re at the mercy of the judges. When that happens, having a boring style will murder you in the scorecards. Conditioning is great, but you gotta be a killer to win. Even if the judges were biased, he simply didn’t do enough to look dominant. He is a grappler who got taken down by a known striker, and Leon got most of the significant strikes. Colby should try to get a boxing coach cuz he clearly doesn’t have power behind those fists and Dana hates cage humpers, title contention is basically over

[@bTek-9]

Colby embarrassed himself but Leon is the most pathetic "champion" in recent history. Bella will finish him. Shavkat will KILL him.

[@vinnbalor]

Colbum bumington fans riding belal & shavkat now🤡🐕

[@RemingtonMiles-sr9uf]

No disrespect to Leon but Jason Jackson would've been able to finish Colby as well as Leon based on their performance tonight.

[@Wishkidful]

He was beating the breaks off Belal before the stop , knocked out Usman , Won against Usman Again ? Just decisively won against a guy that gave Usmans trouble ? I’m some what confused by this comment lol

[@corleth2868]

Lol he beat Usman (twice) and Covington ffs. Anyone claiming Edwards is 'the most pathetic champion in recent history' has no clue about MMA or the history of the UFC.

[@jxknight1980]

Exactly. People that do not know how to fight.

[@Twelve6hellbow]

Leon did nothing the entire fight. He’s always in boring fights too

[@ivanooze1049]

How did he do nothing? Colby's right leg was blown tf up and his face was cut up too. Leon also managed to stuff nearly every takedown and even get 2 of his own. Only thing he didn't do is get a finish... "omg he did NOTHING" lol stfu

[@joebagodonuts8119]

Colby wasn’t the only coward. No one is going to pay to see Leon fight.

[@emanuelsantos5925]

Help yourself but Colby never even tried to engage that's why he was getting booed and he asked to fight who?

[@lipz4dayz-370]

He fought brilliantly

[@corleth2868]

If he fights next in the UK they could easily sell a stadium out so 60-90k will happily pay to see him fight depending on which stadium. Covington sucks in most of his fights.

[@ethnicalbert]

Corny Covington is a washed up clown. SAD!

[@lutzspringborn187]

Talking about cowardice and never stepped a foot in the octagon is beyond me.

[@joebagodonuts8119]

Leon is afraid of BullyB.

[@HWSNISNW]

Michael Smith?

[@aaronrubalcava7810]

No one's afraid of Belal lmao

[@joebagodonuts8119]

@@aaronrubalcava7810 Leon is. He’s a tough mfer. Boring. But tough. If he were more exciting, he would have got a shot. He is the next guy up.

[@aaronrubalcava7810]

@@joebagodonuts8119 Leon was beating him pretty comfortably last time. It'll go the same way.

[@joebagodonuts8119]

@@aaronrubalcava7810 And, thus the eye poke

[@eddiediesel9035]

Congrats Leon BUT why didn't you finish him bro ????? It was your perfect opportunity to make him pay for his disrespectful comments.

[@woodyharrelson2624]

I thought Leon was a sniper and could break Colby’s jaw especially since he’s rusty and one dimensional and didn’t deserve a title fight

[@Maniacsface]

@@JayCosmos56 170 should be better. Half belong at 185. No 155 should be 170 either. The worst is omalley. He’s 6’ +

[@forwardmoving8252]

His loser fans insist he didnt duck belal/shavkat and was forced to fight colby 😂 yet here he is AGAIN dismissing belal like he actually beat him.

[@micahbodha6129]

All the Colby braindead monkey fans now jumping on boring Belal. These people really need some positive direction in life.