What Happened to Leon Edwards’ Dad? Here’s Likely Why He Wanted to Fight Colby Covington For Disrespecting His Father During UFC 296 Press Conference

The UFC 296 press conference on Thursday night was supposed to be a routine affair, where the fighters would answer some questions from the media and face off for the cameras. However, things got heated when the main event participants, Leon Edwards and Colby Covington, exchanged some verbal jabs that escalated into a physical altercation.

Why Did Leon Edwards Get So Mad About Colby Covington Disrespecting His Father?

The tension between the two welterweight contenders has been building up for a long time, as they have been trading insults and accusations on social media and interviews. However, things reached a boiling point when Covington made a disrespectful comment about Edwards’ father, who was murdered when Edwards was a child.

“Saturday night I’m going to bring you to a place you never want to be. I’m going to bring you to the seventh layer of hair, hell. We’ll say what’s up to your dad while we’re there”. At first Colby Covington said “hair” instead of “hell”, because he was probably trying to mock Leon Edwards’ British accent in the midst of disrespecting his dead father.

Edwards, who was visibly angered by the remark, threw his microphone at Covington, who dodged it. Security intervened and separated the two fighters before they could make contact with each other, but the damage was already done. The press conference was cut short and the fighters were escorted out of the venue.

Why Was Leon Edwards’ Dad Murdered? Details On What Allegedly Happened to His Father

According to some reports, Edwards’ father was shot in a gang-related incident when Edwards was only around five years old. Edwards was raised by his mother, who worked hard to provide for him and his brothers. He has often talked about how much his mother means to him, and what he went through growing up without his father. Essentially Covington knew just what to say to strike a nerve.

Edwards also has conveyed in the past that he started training in martial arts to channel his anger and frustration, and to avoid falling into the same path as his father. He likely fights not only for his family, but also to honor his father’s memory.

This is likely why Covington’s comment upset him so much, as it was a blatant disrespect to his father’s legacy and his family’s struggle. Sadly, Covington probably knew it would, and was playing with his father’s death in some form of mind games before their match.

Covington is known for his trash talk and his controversial persona, which he uses to get under his opponents’ skin and to promote his fights. However, Covington may have crossed the line with his comment.

The fight between Edwards and Covington was already one of the most anticipated bouts of the year, and it just got that much more personal. Edwards is confident that he has the skills and the motivation to beat Covington, who he considers a one-dimensional fighter. Edwards believes that he is a more well-rounded fighter, who can strike, grapple, and finish fights.