Colby Covington blasts ‘boring’ Leon Edwards and says Brit should have brought ‘Royal Family’ out for UFC 296 title bout

COLBY COVINGTON hasn’t been the slightest bit impressed by Leon Edwards’ reign as welterweight champion.

Edwards claimed the 170lbs title with a Haily Mary KO of former pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman last August before defending it with a decision victory in their trilogy fight in March.

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Leon Edwards became the king of the welterweights with a spectacular KO of Kamaru Usman last AugustCredit: GETTY

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The Brummie defended the belt in a trilogy fight with The Nigerian Nightmare in MarchCredit: GETTY

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Neither performance impressed Edwards’ upcoming UFC 296 opponent Colby CovingtonCredit: GETTY

Neither performance, however, impressed the Brit’s upcoming UFC 296 opponent Covington, who believes the Brummie has been a stain on the welterweight division.

In an exclusive chat with SunSport, the American said: “No, nothing’s impressed me [about him].

“He’s been a boring champion. The guy doesn’t want to fight.

“He likes to sit out a year and pick and call the shots like he calls the shots around.

“But just like I told him, I gave Leon the best advice he ever got in his career, ‘You don’t cross the boss.’

“He tried to cross the boss and call the shots, but there is no other fight.

“This is the biggest and best fight the company can do.

“This a publicly traded multi-billion-dollar company.

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Colby Covington insist Leon Edwards has been a ‘boring’ championCredit: USA TODAY

“Do you think they’re just gonna let this nobody who doesn’t sell pay-per-views call the shots? No.”‘

Covington will be cheered on by former President of the United States Donald Trump during his third crack at welterweight gold.

And he’s adamant King Charles and Queen Camilla would have made the trip to Sin City this weekend if Edwards was truly a popular figure.

The Californian said: “He’s the B-side next weekend, he’s not the A-side next.

“If he was the A-side, he would be bringing out the Royal Family, he’d be bringing out Mary f***ing Poppins, he’d be bringing out Paddington Bear.

“But nobody wants to come and watch Leon because nobody cares about Leon.

“I’m bringing out the most famous person alive on Planet Earth, I’m bringing out Donald Trump front row.

“I can’t wait to put on a show and put the belt around Donald Trump’s waist next weekend.”

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Donald Trump will be octagon side for Colby Covington’s third crack at UFC goldCredit: INSTAGRAM@COLBYCOVMMA

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Covington has claimed King Charles and Queen Camilla would be in Vegas to support Leon Edwards if he was popularCredit: GETTY

The UFC brass had initially planned for Edwards’ mouthwatering clash clash with Covington to take place at The O2 in July.

A deal, however, failed to come to fruition and paved the way for newly-crowned interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall to headline the card, much to the frustration of Covington.

The former interim 170lbs champ said: “I haven’t been thrilled by his run as champion.

“He likes to pick and choose his fights. He denied the UK fans this homecoming fight.

“How could you turn down a fight in your UK backyard, that’s embarrassing. I feel so bad.”

Covington, 35, was relishing the opportunity to dethrone Edwards on enemy territory.

So much so that he’s already making plans to defend the 170lbs strap in Old Blighty next year.

He said: “Those fans in the UK are the most electrifying I’ve ever seen in this sport’s history.

“So I’m gonna do the UK fans a favour and I’m gonna come and defend this title in the UK after I beat Leon next weekend, December 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Nevada.”

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Colby Covington will bid to dethrone Leon Edwards at UFC 296 this weekendCredit: UFC