Colby Covington mentioned his assist of former President Donald Trump is what swayed judges to award Leon Edwards the choice within the pair’s UFC 296 welterweight title combat final weekend.
All three judges in attendance scored the fight the identical approach — a 49-46 victory in favor of Edwards — together with all 23 media members who scored the combat at house via MMADecisions.com giving the bout to the champ.
“I assumed I had the win,” Covington mentioned whereas showing on Fox Information’ Jesse Watters Primetime. “I assumed I did sufficient, however the judges have by no means favored me. They hate me as a result of I assist Trump. All people hates Trump on this constructing [Ed. word: the previous POTUS acquired a big ovation from the group.] It’s what it’s, life goes on.”
Trump was in attendance for the bout as Covington vowed to have his “greatest function mannequin” current him the title belt as a substitute of UFC CEO Dana White, who additionally occurs to be a buddy of 45.
“I feel they stack the deck in opposition to us as a result of they don’t need we the individuals to have management of this nation once more,” Covington informed Watters. “And that’s what Trump stands for. He stands for democracy. He stands for freedom. So they’re going to do all the things they’ll to maintain us down. Whether it is in any kind of judging place in a combat, or any kind of athletic occasion, they’re going to stack the deck in opposition to us. It’s a unhappy time in our nation. However we have to stand up and we will’t let this preserve us down.”
Nevertheless, Covington, in an ESPN profile, admitted his racially-fueled, right-wing shtick was nothing greater than a persona that started in 2017 when the UFC allegedly threatened to chop him for not being thrilling sufficient.
Since profitable his interim UFC welterweight belt in June 2018, the 35-year-old has gone 3-3 in fights. All three losses have are available in welterweight title fights – two losses to Kamaru Usman and one to Edwards.
“I need a rematch,” Covington mentioned. “I deserve it, you realize. I feel I broke my foot within the first 30 seconds within the combat kicking on his elbow so I need a rematch with this man. I’m going to return again stronger. I’m similar to the American individuals, you realize, we by no means surrender.”