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ESPN
Dec 17, 2023, 01:30 AM ET
LAS VEGAS — Leon Edwards picked up his second UFC welterweight title defense with a dominant win over Colby Covington in the main event at the last UFC pay-per-view event of the year, UFC 296.
After raising the stakes at the prefight news conference on Thursday by negatively mentioning Edwards’ father, who was murdered when Edwards was a teenager, Covington wasn’t able to match that energy in the Octagon as he did little to threaten Edwards for the majority of the fight. With the exception of allowing Covington to control him on the mat during the second half of Round 5, Edwards was in control throughout the rest of the fight to get a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).
Edwards (22-3, 1 NC) is as hot as any fighter in the world. He took home four trophies on Thursday night at the Fighters Only World MMA Awards, including Fighter of the Year. He is unbeaten in 13 straight fights dating to 2015, and now has sole possession of the second longest winning streak in welterweight history. Edwards entered the bout as No.4 ranked fighter pound for pound. Covington (17-4) has now lost three of his last five fights.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja earned his first successful UFC flyweight title defense with a unanimous decision win over Brandon Royval. Pantoja (27-5) has now won four straight. Royval (15-7) had a three-fight win streak ended.
Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim and Dre Waters recap the action below.
