The Colby Covington next fight news has arrived and “Chaos” is set to return in the main event of UFC 296 on Dec. 16. And on that night, the former interim champion will be hoping the third time is the charm in his attempt to be the undisputed UFC welterweight champion.
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Who will Colby Covington next fight be against?
Following over a year away from the Octagon, Covington will make his long-awaited return to action this month when he gets a third chance at being the lineal 170-pound champion in a bout against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296.
Covington failed in his two previous attempts at being the undisputed champion when he came up short against former welterweight king Kamaru Usman in 2019 and 2021.
How to watch Covington vs. Edwards on Dec. 16
- Colby Covington vs. Leon Edwards will headline UFC 296 on Dec. 16
- The event will take place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
- The fight will air exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view for a price of $79.99
- Some tickets for UFC 296 are still available
Colby Covington vs Leon Edwards preview
With Colby Covington just a few months away from his 36th birthday, this is likely the last chance he will get at being a UFC champion. It creates added pressure to a fight where the American will be facing a huge challenge in Edwards.
Bringing the ‘Chaos’: Edwards scored back-to-back victories over long-time Covington rival Kamaru Usman in his last two bouts. MMA math would say that Covington should then have no shot against the Englishman. However, while Covington and Usman have similar styles, they are still quite different.
Covington pushes a hard pace with a high striking output and constant wrestling which will be a serious problem for Edwards. Especially since the current champion has shown at times during his career that he will slow down notably in the later rounds.
Prime threat: While “Chaos” has many impressive wins on his resume, most of them came against fighters passed their prime or at non-optimal weight classes. It could be said that Edwards is one of the rare times Covington is facing an elite talent right in their prime.
It will be interesting to see if his patented high-output style will work against a fighter who is faster, with solid takedown defense and very dangerous striking.
Betting odds: With the fight nearly here, the betting odds are a great piece of evidence of how close this fight is. The champion is just a -162 favorite a day before the bout, despite having two wins over the fighter that handed Covington (+136) a pair of losses.
By fight time this could very well be a pick ’em as “Rocky” tries for a second straight title defense.
The bottom line: This is a make-or-break moment in the career of Colby Covington. A win will finally vindicate him as one of the very best welterweights of his era. While a loss will, once and for all, put to rest his dream of being a UFC champion.
What makes Colby Covington so popular?
The undeniable talent: Covington is one of the most divisive personalities in the entire sport. Nevertheless, his talent as an elite welterweight can’t be understated, as he continues to make his case for acceptance as a pound-for-pound level fighter.
- Colby Covington record: 17-3 (4 knockouts, 4 submissions)
- Colby Covington last fight: Unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal
- Colby Covington age: 35 years old
- Outside of a stunning first-round submission loss to Warley Alves in his ninth pro bout, the only other man to defeat Covington during his 10-year career is Usman. A fighter many consider the best 170-pound UFC competitor of all time.
- The Oregon native has beaten three former UFC champions Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Rafael dos Anjos during his time on the roster.
- Covington isn’t a difficult challenge for foes just because of his wrestling. He arguably has the best gas tank in the entire sport, and his high striking output has set records in previous fights. It’s a style that would even make the Diaz Bros. blush.
The MAGA Man: Even more than promotion superstar Conor McGregor, Covington consistently pushes the envelope in regards to what’s in good taste for fight and brand promotion. It is a style that often rubs fans and media the wrong way, yet it has made him hugely popular with a legion of fans who share his ideological and political views.
- Along with his once friend Masvidal, Covington is a favorite fighter of former US President Donald Trump. The 45th President even called him immediately following his 2020 win over Woodley.
- Covington grew to infamy after his 2017 victory against Brazilian MMA legend Demian Maia. In his Octagon interview right after the bout, he called the Brazilian fans in attendance “filthy animals.”
- “Chaos” often loves to brag about his talents in the bedroom and has claimed it’s where he has developed his outstanding cardio.
Colby Covington’s net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is in the dollars they stack up from a career in professional fisticuffs. After 11 years in the sport, Covington’s net worth is estimated to be $4 million.