LAS VEGAS - Colby Covington, the long-time welterweight contender, expressed his disappointment over the result of the main event at UFC 296, claiming that biased judging robbed him of victory and hindered his chances of becoming the UFC champion. Despite losing a clear unanimous decision to Leon Edwards, Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) firmly believes he did enough to claim the title.

The judges scored the fight four rounds to one in favor of Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC), leading Covington to voice his concerns about political prejudice in the post-fight press conference. "I thought the third, fourth, and fifth rounds were mine," said Covington. "The fifth was mine, easily. The fourth was mine too, and I thought I did enough in the third. He didn't put any damage on me. He got a couple of low kicks, but then I started checking them at the end, so I thought I had the win and did enough."

Covington went on to suggest that the judges hold biases against him due to his support of former President Donald Trump. "The judges never favor me. They hate me because I support Trump, and everybody hates Trump in this building, so it is what it is. Life goes on," he asserted.

Although disappointed with the result, Covington remains determined to regain his position as a title contender, emphasizing that his career is far from over. Despite being in a late career stage at the age of 35, Covington plans to build himself back up to another title shot. Notably, this was Covington's first fight since his unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022.

Having fallen short in three previous undisputed UFC championship fights, twice to former champion Kamaru Usman in 2019 and 2021, Covington acknowledged the pain of each defeat. "That's tough," he admitted. "They all hurt the same. They all sting because I feel like I was right there, and I had what it took to win, but I just took my foot off the gas pedal and didn't believe in myself like I know I'm capable of doing. I don't know. They all sting. They don't feel good. They all suck."

Colby Covington's quest to become the UFC champion continues, fueled by the belief that he was unjustly denied the title at UFC 296. The outcome of the fight has sparked debate over the role of judging and potential biases within the sport. Covington's determination to overcome this setback and prove himself as a legitimate title contender will undoubtedly fuel his future endeavors in the octagon.