Leon Edwards makes second defense of welterweight title against Colby Covington in UFC 296 main event
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to us tonight, December 16, 2023, for UFC 296, the final event of the year going down live from the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Headlining the event is a welterweight title bout between UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-3) and no. 3 ranked former interim champion Colby Covington (17-4).
Edwards came in looking to make the second defense of his title, having won it in his rematch with former champion Kamaru Usman in August of 2022, and having defended it in his trilogy with Usman eight months later. Covington on the other hand hadn’t fought since March of 2022, where he defeated former two-time title challenger Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272.
Continue reading to see how our welterweight championship main event went down:
Official Result: Leon Edwards def. Colby Covington via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Edwards controls the center of the octagon throughout the opening round, Covington offering up next to nothing in offense, probably a result of him not having fought in nearly two years. Edwards lands a hard left hand midway through the round and also defended Covington’s only takedown attempt through the first five minutes.
Covington is fighting very uncharacteristically through the first 10 minutes; he’s allowing Edwards to continue controlling the center, he’s getting out-struck, and he’s not shooting in on any takedowns.
Covington has a better round three, securing a well-timed takedown. He isn’t able to remain on top for long however, as Edwards returns to his feet and takes Covington down himself. Covington is also back to his feet quickly, where he continues to be outkickboxed; his leg is battered, and his body is also quite reddened courtesy of Edwards’ body kicks.
Covington has a better round four, checking some of the champion’s leg kicks and letting go on his punches, as well as securing another takedown.
Covington has a dominant round five, getting another takedown where he’s able to remain on top until the bell sounds, but it was too little too late.
Just like in his rematch with Kamaru Usman, a fight he went into on a 14-month layoff (this one was a 21-month layoff), he took the first two rounds off, probably due to ring rust, had a close round three, and a good effort in the championship rounds.
Colby Covington stated post-fight he’d like to return in the first quarter of 2024.
As for our UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, who just made the second defense of his title tonight, he’ll be seeing either Belal Muhammad or Shavkat Rakhmonov next, hopefully also in the first quarter of next year.
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