Anticipated to struggle former interim welterweight title challenger, Colby Covington this summer time in an undisputed championship conflict – present division kingpin, Leon Edwards has opened as fairly the betting underdog for the conflict, regardless of driving a surprising, division-best 12-fight undefeated streak.
Edwards, the present undisputed UFC welterweight title challenger, most lately featured in the principle occasion of UFC 286 earlier this month in a London, England homecoming, defeating common-foe, Kamaru Usman within the pair’s trilogy title rubber match, beating the Auchi native in a detailed, majority resolution win to defend his crown.
Covington, who clinch interim welterweight spoils again in 2018, has been sidelined since returning to the winner’s enclosure again in March of final yr at UFC 272, beating former coaching accomplice and multiple-time title challenger, Jorge Masvidal in a one-sided unanimous judging success.
This week, stories emerged detailing how the UFC, who’re reportedly concentrating on July 22. to host a pay-per-view occasion; UFC 291 in London, England – had been aiming to guide an undisputed welterweight title showdown between Edwards and Covington for the cardboard.
And within the wake of the report, markets have opened on a possible struggle between Edwards and the outspoken, Covington. In what might come as a shock to some, present champion, Edwards has opened as a +105 betting underdog towards Covington – who sits as a -125 favourite on the time of publication. In the event you fancy wagering on the anticipated title struggle, most sportsbooks provide appreciable outright bets and order prop bets on combined martial arts occasions and fights as well.
Successful undisputed gold again in August of final atop a UFC 278 flagship card in Utah, Birmingham native, Edwards managed to show round a 3-1 spherical deficit towards the above-mentioned, Usman, stopping the then-pound-for-pound primary with a devastating fifth spherical excessive kick KO.
Struggling each a fifth spherical TKO loss and a rematch resolution loss to former champion, Usman in his pursuit of undisputed welterweight gold, Covington defeated former undisputed light-weight champion, Rafael dos Anjos in June 2018 to win his personal interim division throne.
Regardless of calling for a showdown with Edwards at UFC 290 throughout Worldwide Battle Week in July of this yr, it seems Covington – who has predicted he’ll beat the Briton from “pillar to put up” – should should accept a visit to enemy territory two weeks later.
“Leon (Edwards), man, it’s essential to cease hiding,” Colby Covington stated. “You want to come out right here and defend your f*cking nation, and show you’re an actual champion. In the event you’re an actual champion, you’ll beat anyone. So come get it, Leon – I’m ready for you Leon Scott (sic).”
“I beat him from pillar to put up,” Colby Covington defined. “I beat him all over the place. I’m a greater wrestler, a greater striker, [I’ve got] higher Jiu-Jitsu, you realize, my cardio – he can’t grasp [with me]. He slows down in fights, you realize, these final couple of rounds he undoubtedly – he’ll come out exhausting and he’ll throw, fifty-sixty kicks, fifty-sixty punches, however then his quantity adjustments. So I’ll put on him out, Michael (Bisping), and I’ll break him. I’ll break his will, and you will note that. That’s why he’s not promoting the struggle.”
