Usman Wants Edwards To Stop ‘Whining’ About Covington

Colby Covington already had two shots at the welterweight title and came up empty both times. But now that Kamaru Usman is no longer the 170-pound champion, “Chaos” has been able to worm his way back into the title picture against current division kingpin, Leon Edwards, in the UFC 296 pay-per-view (PPV) main event.

Even if he doesn’t deserve it.

“I feel like the world knows that [he doesn’t deserve it],” Edwards told The MMA Hour. “He got beat by Usman. He beat a guy in [Jorge] Masvidal that’s basically about to walk out the door, and then [he sat] out for two years and got a title shot. Turned down all the fights that were offered to him, all the [fighters] that called him out. He got Dana White privilege, alright. And that’s it, he hasn’t earned it. I think (Donald) Trump wants him to win. I don’t know. None of it matters, right? My whole career’s been the underdog going against the favorite.”

Edwards has been vocal about his disdain for Covington in the buildup to UFC 296, which takes place this Sat. night (Dec. 16, 2023) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Usman, however, argues that “Rocky” is doing more harm than good with his constant “whining” about Covington’s “Dana White privilege.”

“The UFC doesn’t care,” Usman told the “DC & RC” show on ESPN. “The UFC wants who’s going to make the most money. That’s who they care about. They are a company, and they’re trying to bring in revenue. Leon, if you feel that the UFC wants him to win because it brings them more money, well, change that. You be that cash cow. You be that guy that brings in more money. So, I don’t want to hear that from a champion, because that just sounds like whining to me. You want to change the narrative, then go out there and change that narrative.”

Easiest way to accomplish that goal is to win on Sat. night in “Sin City.”

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 296 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 296: “Edwards vs. Covington” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 296 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.