Social media reacts to Colby Covington’s ‘pitiful performance’ in loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 296

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December 17, 2023 1:24 am ET

Leon Edwards continued to establish his title reign in the welterweight division when he turned back challenger Colby Covington in the UFC 296 main event.

Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) registered his second defense of the 170-pound bouts on Saturday, this time with a lopsided unanimous decision victory over outspoken contender Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in the headlining act at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Edwards’ title defense over Covington at UFC 296.

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Henry Cejudo

The fun and games are over. Now it’s strictly business. Colby Covington is going to press him to get him against the cage, weigh on him, and fatigue him. #UFC296

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) December 17, 2023

Bloody Elbow

Edwards on the front foot early. Covington circling the edge of the Octagon. #UFC296

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

This bum shouldn’t be fighting for the belt

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Anton Tabuena

Colby looking absolutely gun shy to start

— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) December 17, 2023

Caposa

Still early but uhh Colby looks pretty bad in R1

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 17, 2023

Fight Ghost

Edwards beat up Covington in round 1, live odds -275 Leon #UFC296

— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 17, 2023

Alan Jouban

Leon up 1. But a feeler round where Leon was looking to mainly counterpunch. #UFC296

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) December 17, 2023

Ben Askren

Weird round. Easy win for Leon, don’t know why Colby didn’t try more pressure

— Funky (@Benaskren) December 17, 2023

Brady Hiestand

Hoping for more in the 2nd. Colby can’t fight like this.

— Brady Hiestand (@bradyHiestand1) December 17, 2023

Henry Cejudo

Round 1 was boring but I’ll give it to Leon Edwards. #UFC296

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) December 17, 2023

Teddy Atlas

Edwards doesn’t waste anything, accurate and always in position. 1-0 Edwards #UFC296

— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) December 17, 2023

E. Spencer Kyte

Nearly two years off, hasn’t beaten anyone meaningful in five years, 35 years old, talked himself into a corner… it all adds up, man. #UFC296

— E. Spencer Kyte (@spencerkyte) December 17, 2023

Niall McGrath

Colby Covington with a ridiculously conservative start here 😬🤣 #UFC296

— Niall McGrath (@niallmcgrath4) December 17, 2023

Dan Tom

Also, the counter crosses and right hooks I talked about in all my breakdowns have been there since Jump Street for Edwards, but this ain’t over… #UFC296

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) December 17, 2023

Aiemann Zahabi

Is Colby taking a dive?? 🤣

— Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) December 17, 2023

Zac Pauga

Colbys going to Ride the cage and do nothing for 5 rounds? Bold plan let’s see how it works out for him. #UFC296

— Zac Pauga (@ZacPauga) December 17, 2023

Brett Okamoto

I think it’s Leon’s speed that’s throwing Colby off right now. He looks intimidated by it. Like he doesn’t trust where Leon is gonna be when he wants to throw.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 17, 2023

Derek Brunson

Leon wins this type of fight 9/10 times . You can’t let him stay comfortable on the outside ! #UFC296

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

What a waste of everyone’s time

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

Trump is on tik tok right now scrolling

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Michael Carroll

Is Colby hurt or something?

— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) December 17, 2023

Daniel Rubenstein

Maybe this is why you don’t give a title fight to a guy who had been off for 20+ months 🤦🏻‍♂️

— Daniel Rubenstein (@dannyrube) December 17, 2023

Ben Askren

Anyone know what’s Colby strategy???

— Funky (@Benaskren) December 17, 2023

Nolan King

20-18 Edwards. That was a more eventful round, but still not very eventful round. Boos at T-Mobile Arena #UFC296

— Nolan King (@mma_kings) December 17, 2023

Henry Cejudo

2-0 Leon Edwards. What’s up Donald Trump’s son, you’re fighting like a little hoe! #UFC296

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) December 17, 2023

Danny Segura

This has been Edwards’ easiest 10 minutes of his entire UFC career. Covington is NOT DOING ANYTHING. #UFC296

— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) December 17, 2023

Matt Brown

We all knew Colby was a dummy but didn’t think he was dumb enough to not look to take Leon down

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 17, 2023

Teddy Atlas

Edwards efficient and measured, looking to take Covington apart piece by piece. #UFC296

— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) December 17, 2023

Aljamain Sterling

That leg is getting chewed up bad

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 17, 2023

Bloody Elbow

Covington opens round 3 with a takedown attempt, but can’t get it. Back to circling away and giving Edwards range and space. #UFC296

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) December 17, 2023

Michael Chandler

Through three rounds, the guy who calls out the “triggered” sure is afraid to pull the trigger. #ufc296

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 17, 2023

Brian Ortega

Leon looking really good tonight . Colby kinda looking slow tonight though. @ufc

— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) December 17, 2023

Caposa

Colby needs a finish. In other words this is over.

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

I’m walking through them

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Ben Askren

This is a pitiful performance from Colby, is he even gonna try? Trump is gonna disown him after this

— Funky (@Benaskren) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

Are we done with the colby thing now 0-3 title fights

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Jared Gordon

Colby is really showing his time away from the octagon tonight… #UFC296

— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 17, 2023

Brian Ortega

Edward’s not even breathing 😮‍💨 @ufc

— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) December 17, 2023

Brian Ortega

You guys thinking low legs kicks to get em him to bite then he will bring it up high for a KO again. ? @ufc

— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) December 17, 2023

Michael Chandler

Through four rounds Colby has taken 1776 punches to the face and his only offense is a few sloppy takedowns. #ufc296

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

Wonder what excuse this bum makes up

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Aaron Bronsteter

40-36 Leon

That was Colby’s best round, but I still give the nod to Edwards.

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 17, 2023

Ben Askren

Colby’s coaches are terrible, where did he find these guys!

— Funky (@Benaskren) December 17, 2023

Matt Brown

Leon is just that good. Fundamentals and patience.

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 17, 2023

Fight Ghost

Leon Edwards -5000 entering the fifth and final round of a horrible UFC title fight. #UFC296

— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 17, 2023

Cageside Press

COLBY ON TOP LOOKING TO POSTURE TO LAND SHOTS!!!!

Leon on his back in open guard with his left side on the fence. #UFC296

— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) December 17, 2023

Belal Muhammad

Colby landed 100 strikes but zero significant

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2023

Ariel Helwani

Why are they speaking like Leon hasn’t dominated 99.9% of the fight? What in the world.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 17, 2023

Ben Askren

And Colby gets up and acts like he didn’t get his ass kicked for 4 rounds.

— Funky (@Benaskren) December 17, 2023

Michael Chandler

If Colby’s offense tonight was an accurate depiction of the U.S. strength, we would have never gotten our independence from Britain, lost WWI and got demoralized in WWII by a landslide. Colby, you suck. #ufc296

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 17, 2023

Megan Anderson

There is no way Colby thinks he won that fight 🤣 #UFC296

— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) December 17, 2023

Nolan King

Leon Edwards’ coach Dave Lovell is exchanging words with Colby Covington post-fight in the cage. UFC security positions between them #UFC296

— Nolan King (@mma_kings) December 17, 2023

Matt Brown

Glad the judges got it right I was nervous

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 17, 2023

Simon Head

“He’s a great competitor. But he’s just a dirty human being.” – Leon Edwards on Colby Covington #UFC296

— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) December 17, 2023

Derek Brunson

Trump over there like . I don’t know this n**** 💀 😂😂😂 #UFC296

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 17, 2023

Michael Carroll

LONGEST ACTIVE UFC UNBEATEN STREAKS19 – Jon Jones13 – Leon Edwards13 – Islam Makhachev11 – Magomed Ankalaev10 – Belal Muhammad#UFC296

— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) December 17, 2023

Islam Makhachev

I will finish both this guy

— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) December 17, 2023

Philip Rowe

Think about someone you have a deep love for, that person being murdered, then someone mocking the death of your loved one. The fight game is a very short portion of our lives. Selling your soul for a dollar ain’t it. Be a noble human. Don’t be like @ColbyCovMMA

— Philip Rowe (@phillyfreshmma) December 17, 2023

Colby Covington

Colby Covington doesn’t regret his comments about Leon Edwards’ father ahead of #UFC296, and doubles down on them. 😳

“I don’t feel bad about that at all. Why would I feel bad for a criminal?” pic.twitter.com/K5maAKGlvN

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 17, 2023

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