Colby Covington Rejects Possibility of Short-Notice Fight Against Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards still needs an opponent if he is to remain on the UFC Fight Night 187 card, but it doesn’t appear that Colby Covington is a willing dance partner.

Last week, UFC president Dana White revealed that the promotion was working on booking a title eliminator between Covington and Edwards, potentially as early as March 13. Edwards was supposed to face Khamzat Chimaev at the event before Chimaev withdrew to ongoing COVID-19 issues.

In an interview with Submission Radio, Covington rejected the possibility of a matchup with Edwards.

“‘Leon Scott’ hasn’t earned anything,” Covington said. “I’m in the Colby Covington Incorporated championship business. I’m not in the Leon Scott charity business. This isn’t charity hour, man. I’m fighting at the top of the mountain. I’m fighting the best in the world …

“I’m not doing charity business no more. It’s not my fault this kid hasn’t fought in two years. It’s not my fault this kid – there’s people from England fighting all the time in the pandemic, they’re not scared to fight. So, I’m not doing charity for this guy who hasn’t fought in two years. He’s irrelevant, he’s beat a bunch of bums, and I’m not doing charity. This isn’t charity hour, this is f—-ing championship f—-ing pay-per-view hour.”

Instead, Covington seems more focused on reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who called for a rematch with Jorge Masvidal after dispatching Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 this past Saturday. Covington lost to Usman via fifth-round TKO in a welterweight title bout at UFC 245 in December 2019. “Chaos” is not pleased that Masvidal could be in line for another crack at Usman.

“Let’s talk about real business, let’s not talk about charity business no more,” Covington said. “I deserve and I earned a fight for the world title. I just destroyed the former champion, finished him like nobody’s finished him before in the UFC. I came back and won a fight, what has Jorge Masvidal done besides sit on the sidelines and fake f—-ing pull out of fights?

“He’s scared to fight. He knows he’s washed up, he’s a journeyman. He’s looking for one more pay day. No one wants to see that guy fight for the title, they know what’s gonna happen. It’s gonna be the same exact outcome. And why reward a coward like that? A guy that’s blatantly scared to fight?”

Covington last appeared at UFC Fight Night 178 this past September, when he stopped former title holder Tyron Woodley in the fifth round of the evening’s main event.