LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 14: UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (L) punches Colby Covington in their welterweight title fight during UFC 245 at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Usman retained his title with a fifth-round TKO.
Leon Edwards does not think Colby Covington is worth another title shot as the two exchange verbal blows.
It appeared regardless of who won Saturday’s Welterweight title that the UFC was setting up Colby Covington to challenge the winner.
The 35-year-old even made weight as the backup fighter if either one of Kamaru Usman or Edwards had to pull out of the main event.
However, Edwards is having none of it.
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“I definitely have a say and he ain’t getting the title shot next fight,” Edwards said on The Mixed Martial Arts Hour with Ariel Helwani.
“Look at the road I had to take to get there. No way you’re getting beat twice by the guy I just beat twice. [He] went out there and beat Masvidal and then sits out for a year and a half.”
Covington has so far gotten two shots at Usman, losing by technical knockout (TKO) and unanimous decision.
Edwards, meanwhile, is 2-1 against Usman in the UFC, representing 66% of the Nigerian native’s losses in the UFC.
And Convington fired back by saying Edwards would get “stripped” of his Welterweight title if he refuses to fight him.
“You’re not Conor McGregor, bro,” he told Mike Heck of MMA Fighting.
“You don’t get to call the shots, dude. You’re a nobody, dude.”
It’s a fight that UFC president Dana White wants and he even confirmed to reporters after Edwards’ win on Saturday that Convington would be next.
However, it remains to be seen who will get their way.
While Edwards, also known as “Rocky” in the octagon, deserves some respect after taking down Usman twice, he only has one belt defense and it will be a tough battle to win depending on how badly the UFC wants to make the fight.
Covington gave Edwards advice by stating, “You don’t cross your boss.”
But if Edwards does get his way – there are a few good fights that the UFC can still make for him.
This includes Gilbert Burns, and Belal Muhammad, as well as rising undefeated stars in Shavkat Rakhmonov and Khamzat Chimaev, who might be middleweight bound instead.
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