Colby Covington’s Pursuit for the Welterweight Title: Edwards, Poirier, and Chimaev in the Spotlight
Colby Covington’s Pursuit for the Welterweight Title: Edwards, Poirier, and Chimaev in the Spotlight
Colby Covington, the outspoken welterweight contender, is determined to secure his shot at the 170-pound title. Despite some hurdles and opponents turning him down, Covington is confident he will get the opportunity to face Leon Edwards in a highly anticipated showdown. Let’s dive into the details of Covington’s quest for redemption and the challenges he faces on his UFC journey.
Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington welterweight title fight is targeted at UFC 295 on November 11th in MSG.
Main Event: Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic
Co-Main Event: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington
🗽🏆 🏆
Per Dana White/Adam Catterall #UFC294 #UFC pic.twitter.com/eI2elabo0D
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) July 20, 2023
The Title Fight Delay
Following Dana White‘s announcement that Colby Covington deserved the next welterweight title shot, fans eagerly awaited the clash between Covington and Leon Edwards. However, Edwards seemed to be stalling, much to Covington’s dismay. While the UFC president assured Covington that the title fight was guaranteed, the matchup was delayed, leaving Covington waiting for his chance to shine.
Facing Obstacles
With no confirmed date for the title fight, Covington found himself dealing with opponents turning down potential matchups. First, Dustin Poirier declined the offer, leaving Covington frustrated with his lack of willingness to step into the cage. Covington didn’t hold back, calling Poirier a “p—y” and questioning his courage.
Next up was Khamzat Chimaev, a rising star in the UFC. Covington was eager to end the hype surrounding Chimaev, but the bout didn’t materialize as Chimaev seemed unprofessional and scared to fight. Despite Chimaev’s big talk online, he avoided signing contracts and refused to face Covington inside the octagon.
UFC 294: Islam vs Oliveira, Khamzat vs Costa
UFC 295: Jones vs Stipe, Colby vs Leon
UFC 296: Chandler vs McGregor
Could we see 3 consecutive PPVs get 1 million + PPV buys? Either way, if all these fights come through as planned, this would be a huge revival for the UFC. pic.twitter.com/NH8rjafLB6
— notNotorious (@Notori6us) July 20, 2023
Potential Redemption
Amidst these setbacks, Covington remains confident that the showdown with Edwards will happen sooner or later. While waiting for his chance, Covington targeted other fighters like Poirier and Chimaev, engaging in verbal skirmishes with them in the media. However, he acknowledges that his ultimate goal is the welterweight title, and he is ready to seize the opportunity when it arises.
Challenges for Edwards
On the other side of the octagon, Leon Edwards faces challenges of his own. The delay in his title defense led to speculations about his readiness and possible injuries. Covington believes there must be something wrong on Edwards’ side, but he is determined to meet him in the center of the cage and prove his worthiness for the title shot.
🚨| Leon Edwards has confirmed that it is looking increasingly likely that he will defend his welterweight title against Colby Covington at #UFC295 on November 11th at MSG following the #UFC294 announcements made earlier this week.
[per #UFCLondon: Fight Day Focus] pic.twitter.com/2RqSDlUHEt
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) July 22, 2023
A Ticket to UFC 295
Covington has his sights set on facing Edwards at UFC 295, scheduled for November 11 at Madison Square Garden. He sees this bout as an “insurance policy” for the pay-per-view card, ensuring an exciting and high-profile fight if Jon Jones, the heavyweight champ, proves unreliable for the event.
Both fighters have expressed their interest in the matchup, and UFC President Dana White has already targeted the Edwards vs. Covington fight for the New York City event. All that remains is the signing of contracts to make this highly anticipated showdown a reality.