Leon Edwards experienced a significant turning point following the pre-fight press conference of UFC 296.
Until that moment, the UFC Welterweight champion had largely dismissed the continuous barrage of trash talk from his controversial challenger. However, everything changed when Colby Covington insulted Edwards’ deceased father, who tragically lost his life when the champion was just 13 years old. This incident marked a definitive shift in the tone of UFC 296’s buildup.
In the aftermath of the fight, Edwards admitted that Covington’s comments left him “crying with rage.” Dave Lovell, Edwards’ longtime coach, revealed on Wednesday that he had never witnessed Edwards in such a heightened emotional state before a fight.
Leon Edwards was taken back by Covington’s attack
“He was well hurt by it,” Lovell stated Wednesday on The MMA Hour. “It took him back. He didn’t expect that, as you can see by his reaction on stage. And yeah, it was a dirty, cheap — well, I can’t even call it a trick. To me, it’s going below the belt. I’m not against a man selling a fight, it is what it is, and if he keeps it in that perspective, all good. But when you start attacking family, now you’ve changed the rules, haven’t you? I thought [Covington] would’ve learned his lesson from when [Jorge] Masvidal sought him out outside the gaffe.
“But obviously he hasn’t learned his lesson, and one day he may say the wrong thing to the wrong person in the wrong time, and the consequences may be more detrimental.”
At 32, Edwards had the final say, decisively triumphing over Covington in a one-sided decision at UFC 296, marking his second successful defense of the welterweight title.
However, Covington’s inflammatory remarks sparked intense debate within the MMA community, prompting discussions on whether he had overstepped a boundary or if such a boundary even exists.
Leon Edwards Coach Bites Back at Covington
According to Lovell, expressions like Covington’s have no rightful place in this sport.
“I’m a father and I’ve got children, and God forbid, if anything was to happen to me, I know how my boys would feel — and if somebody was to rub that into their face or say that, I know the reaction that would happen,” Lovell said. “I’m feeling it for Leon because he’s grown up basically fatherless, and for somebody to chuck that at him, it’s gut-wrenching. And I even said to Dana [White] after when he came over, I said, ‘Dana, where do you draw the line?’ Dana turned around and says, ‘Well listen, you know what kind of scum you’re dealing with.’ But I said, ‘Yes Dana, but you’ve got to draw a line [at] somewhere wrong.’
“Because if that’s the case, that means he’s giving the green light to anybody. That means if me and you are going to fight, I can do a little bit of history on your family — God forbid, I heard that one of your family members passed away under whatever circumstances, and then throw it in your face. Is that what everybody’s about now? Are we bringing the game down to that? That sort of gutter sniping life? This is what hurt me.”
Brotherly Love for Leon
Lovell spoke to Fabian Edwards, Leon’s brother and a former Bellator title challenger, after Covington’s comments. Communication with Edwards’ mother was through Fabian. The goal was to keep Leon focused on the game plan, and they succeeded. Post-fight, Leon admitted UFC 296 was emotionally tough, but he executed the task.
“It hurt Leon a lot. He went within himself. I had a talk with him and the team. I said, ‘It is what it is. Don’t fight with emotions. Be spiteful. Follow the game plan.'”
“Covington hobbled out with ice packs, claiming an easy fight. Mission accomplished.”
After the fight, Lovell confronted Covington. Things got heated, but Edwards and security intervened.
“You don’t want to know,” Lovell laughed when asked about the exchange.
“If it was to go, I was ready. All guns blazing. The old boy was ready to go.”
How do you think the emotional aspect of the battle with Covington will impact Edwards going forward? Share your comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
