LAS VEGAS – As expected, Colby Covington won’t accept defeat and thinks he was cheated from becoming UFC champion.
The longtime welterweight contender and controversial figure said he thinks he did enough to dethrone champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296 on Saturday. Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) lost a clear unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight four rounds to one in favor of Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC).
Yet, Covington blames his loss on biased judging, claiming political prejudice.
“I thought the third, fourth and fifth rounds were mine,” Covington said at the UFC 296 post-fight press conference. “The fifth was mine, easily. The fourth was mine too, and I thought I did enough in the third. He didn’t put any damage on me. He got a couple of low kicks, but then I started checking them at the end, so I thought I had the win and did enough.
“The judges never favor me. They hate me because I support Trump, and everybody hates Trump in this building, so it is what it is. Life goes on.”
This was Covington’s first fight since defeating heated rival Jorge Masvidal in a unanimous decision at UFC 272 in March 2022. The 35-year-old is now 0-3 in undisputed UFC championship fights, having previously lost twice to then champion Kamary Usman in 2019 and 2021.
Covington assures his days as a title contender are not over, and he plans to build back up to another title despite being in a late career stage. When asked about his previous defeats in title fights, Covington said none in particular hurt more than the other.
“That’s tough,” Covington said. “They all hurt the same. They all sting, because I feel like I was right there, and I had what it took to win, but I just took my foot off the gas pedal and didn’t believe in myself like I know I’m capable of doing. I don’t know. They all sting. They don’t feel good. They all suck.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.