UFC President Dana White has hinted at the potential inclusion of welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the highly anticipated UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden.
During an interview with TNT Sports, White confirmed that Edwards will make an appearance “before the end of the year” and mentioned the possibility of him fighting at MSG.
While White did not explicitly name Edwards’ expected opponent, Colby Covington, who earned the backup fighter role for the champ’s rematch with Kamaru Usman at UFC 286, was not specifically addressed. The matchup between Edwards and Covington was initially planned for UFC London, which is set to take place at The O2 on Saturday. However, Edwards later decided to postpone the fight, targeting a return in the autumn.
Initially, Edwards dismissed Covington as a potential opponent, stating that the two-time welterweight champion did not deserve a title shot. However, his representative later clarified that Edwards would not stubbornly insist on facing another contender, such as the rising star Belal Muhammad.
Edwards had also considered UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi as a potential location for his next bout. According to White, the promotion has already scheduled events until that month, creating potential openings on the November pay-per-view card, headlined by a heavyweight title clash between Jon Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic.
It has been four months since Edwards secured a decision victory over Kamaru Usman in a rematch at UFC 286, following his title-winning knockout of the former champion in August 2022. Covington, on the other hand, last competed in March 2022, earning a decision win against his former friend and training partner Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272. Subsequently, a physical altercation occurred between Covington and Masvidal at a restaurant, resulting in a pending criminal case.
The full interview with Dana White can be found below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC 295
Q: Is Leon Edwards going to fight at UFC 295?
A: UFC President Dana White has indicated that there is a possibility of Leon Edwards participating in the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden.
Q: Who is Leon Edwards expected to fight at UFC 295?
A: While UFC President Dana White did not explicitly mention Leon Edwards’ expected opponent, there were initial talks of him facing Colby Covington. However, the matchup has not been confirmed.
Q: Why did Leon Edwards initially dismiss Colby Covington as an opponent?
A: Leon Edwards initially felt that Colby Covington did not deserve a chance to fight for his welterweight belt.
Q: When is Leon Edwards planning to return to the octagon?
A: After initially targeting a fall return, Leon Edwards is expected to make an appearance “before the end of the year” according to UFC President Dana White.
Q: Where was Leon Edwards considering for his next fight?
A: Initially, Leon Edwards had considered UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi as a potential location for his next fight.
Q: What is the status of the criminal case involving Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal?
A: Following an alleged assault by Jorge Masvidal on Colby Covington at a restaurant, a criminal case is currently pending.
Q: When did Leon Edwards last fight and who was his opponent?
A: Leon Edwards last fought in a rematch against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286, where he secured a decision win. Prior to that, he had won the welterweight title by knocking out the ex-champ in August 2022.
Q: Has Colby Covington fought since his win over Jorge Masvidal?
A: No, Colby Covington has not fought since his decision victory against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022.
More about UFC 295
- UFC official website
- Madison Square Garden official website
- Leon Edwards UFC profile
- Colby Covington UFC profile
- Kamaru Usman UFC profile
- Belal Muhammad UFC profile
- Jon Jones UFC profile
- Stipe Miocic UFC profile
- Jorge Masvidal UFC profile
7 comments
shoutout to belal muhammed, man’s a rising star and deserves a shot. but edwards ain’t gonna back down, he’s a tough fighter.
damn, it’s been a while since edwards fought usman, that decision win was impressive. covington needs to get back in there and show what he’s got!
jon jones vs stipe miocic headlining the november ppv, that’s gonna be insane! maybe edwards vs covington can be on the same card? fingers crossed!
so edwards won over usman before but covington got the backup spot i wanna see them go at it. hope they make it happen at ufc 295!
dana white is hyped about leon edwards fighting at ufc 295 this year it’s gonna be epic cant wait for that! madison square garden is such a legendary venue!
leon edwards vs colby covington gonna be a sick fight bro i wanna see them throw down in the octagon. edwards was like nahhh at first but now it might happen!
crazy how things escalated between covington and masvidal, now there’s a pending criminal case. hope they sort it out and get back to fighting soon.