Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington full fight video highlights

17/12/2023 07:23

Watch Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington full fight video highlights from the main event of UFC 296, courtesy of the UFC and other outlets.

UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington took place Dec. 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-3, 1 NC) put his belt on the line against Colby Covington (17-4) in the night's main event, which aired live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Catch the video highlights below.

For more on Edwards vs. Covington, check out the live blog by MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew.

Round 1: Covington out and switching stances early. Leon doing the same and he presses Covington back to start. When will the first takedown attempt come?

Leon has Covington back to the fence very early. That's a good plan for him. Both men feeling things out to start though. No action through the first minute, just feints. Good that Leon didn't come out angry.

Covington throws a high kick that gets blocked. Our first strike of the evening. Leon is very measured here and Covington is simply waiting. He's not putting that cardio to use and he's losing the pressure battle. The crowd starts chanting "Col-by!" as the action continues to wait.

Covington presses Edwards back to the center. Now we're in open space and both men are still feeling things out. Tepid strikes from both strikes. Edwards lands a decent right as Covington steps in with a 1-2. Leon backs him up and lands a left and then a right. Covington takes them well.

Leon cutting the cage and small counter as Covington pushes off it. Leg kick from the champion. 2 minutes left and the pace is at a crawl right now.

And finally Covington attacks a snatch single but Leon dismisses it with ease. Covington didn't commit though. And Leon lands a crisp left as Covington is looking very timid in there. Leon is moving Covington around the cage, giving him very little space to operate. And Covington has a small cut on his cheek.

Short time and not much has happened and honestly, this looks like Covington is injured. That's full speculation, but this looks like how someone fights when they came in with an injury.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Edwards.

Round 2: If the action doesn't pick up, this is going to be ab all-time bad title fight. 17 combined strikes landed in Round 1.

Edwards takes the center and Covington lands a body kick. I'm also noticing he isn't throwing the right hand much at all. Maybe he hurt it? He steps in and eats a hard counter. That backs him right up.

Leon controlling the cage beautifully but not opening up with offense. Staying in second gear. And Covington lands a right hand as Leon steps him back. Covington still looking deeply uncomfortable. Is this ring rust? Super weird. Covington has never fought like this.

Two minutes in and not much has happened. Leon landed a few left hands and some kicks. Covington showing bruising on his lead leg. And now the crowd is booing. Leon goes for a head kick and the crowd cheers. Colby's people are going to abandon him for fighting like this.

This is deeply confusing. He looks like he's never fought before. Reaching, moving away, timid. Leon marching him around the cage at will now and starting to land consistently. Nothing major, just tapping him. Covington still hasn't shot for real and the crowd is booing loudly now.

Edwards just tapping him at a pace that even I could fight at. There is no method to this madness from Covington unless it's purely to survive.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Edwards, 20-18 Edwards overall.

Round 3: Covington's corner is unhappy with him and try to tell him, nicely, that he's punting this fight away. He comes out and reaches immediately for the leg but Leon steps away and he's back to marching Covington around the cage.

Leon is doing a very good job of controlling the range. Covington cannot get inside to take a clean shot and he's not taking any shots whatsoever instead. And now he's biting on feints from Leon, who keeps tagging him.

And Leon lands a mean low kick that got a reaction. He's moving gingerly now. And he shoots a double and he gets it! Leon is against the fence and trying to stand up but he tries to step over and Colby wins the scramble and he's on top!

Edwards gets right back up though and lands a head kick! Covington backs up and Leon shoots a double and gets it! Leon then stands up. That was simply to prove a point. DAAAAMN savage right there.

Leon now feels real comfortable in there. Touching the body, low kicks, controlling the range. Still not really putting it on him, but Covington appears to already be broken mentally. Nasty low kick. Covington tries to catch but can't. Leon keeps touching him, sliding back from attacks and getting in. Covington is shooooook.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Edwards, 30-27 Edwards overall.

Round 4: Edwards' corner told him to up the output this round. Not sure why. He's cruising in there.

More of the same to start and Covington shoots a double! It's now exciting when he does something but Leon defends and attacks a guillotine! Covington has to spin out and retreat. Leon goes back to work, front kicks to the body and leg kicks.

Leon lands a nice little pull left hand counter when Covington got brave. Now Covington is in full high guard. Very little new things to talk about. It's the same as the other rounds.

Covington puts together a combo and shoots! He's got Leon against the fence and he's on the legs but can't quite finish it. Back in space and Leon gets warned for a knee where the foot grazes the cup but we're back at it.

And now Covington is starting to fight a little. He's taking chances and lands a pair of right hands. Now he's in on a single leg but Leon shuts it down easily. Covington stays on it though and as Leon tries to spin to the back, Covington wins the scramble and is on the back!

No hooks in, Leon in turtle and Leon tosses him over the top then lands a knee to the body. At least Covington is trying to fight now though.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Edwards, 40-36 Edwards overall.

Round 5: I'm at the point where I genuinely believe Covington is hiding an injury. It's the only thing that makes sense. He's never fought like this before.

Leon opens things up with a high kick that Covington blocks. Covington goes for a body kick. But he's still not pressing the action like a man in need of a finish.

LOL. Covington just shot the absolute laziest knee tap I've ever seen and he GOT it. Grabbed the foot off it and as Leon stepped away, he treetopped him. But Edwards pops right back up and no we're against the fence and it's Leon who grabs the clinch and forces Covington to the mat!

And he moves to the back! Covington has a hip out, but Edwards has a hook in and he's trying to scoot under for the backpack. Covington shimmies around and Leon attacks a triangle! It's off to the side though and now he moves to an armbar as Covington was breaking free! And Covington busts back in and now he's on top.

Covington in the guard and has two minutes to work for something. Could the judges have totally bungled this? Can Covington win a robbery just by holding this position?

Covington not doing much but staying busy and Leon is doing nothing. He is accepting no risk under the belief that he already won this fight on the cards. He should but man, with this cadre of judges, ANYTHING is possible.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Covington, 49-46 Edwards overall.

Leon Edwards def. Colby Covington by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).