In an upcoming battle for the welterweight title, Leon Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will be defending his championship against Colby Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC 296. As the fight approaches, Edwards has expressed concerns that the UFC and former U.S. President Donald Trump may be favoring his opponent. However, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (unknown MMA record) has advised Edwards to take matters into his own hands to change the narrative.

During a recent interview on "The MMA Hour," Edwards spoke about his belief that the UFC and President Trump are rooting for Covington to emerge victorious. Usman, who has previously faced both Edwards and Covington, disagrees with this notion and argues that the UFC is primarily focused on generating revenue.

"The UFC doesn't care," Usman stated during ESPN's "DC & RC." "The UFC wants who's going to make the most money. That's who they care about. They are a company, and they're trying to bring in revenue."

While Usman understands Edwards' concerns, he believes that the champion should strive to become the cash cow himself and shift the narrative in his favor.

"Leon, if you feel that the UFC wants him to win because it brings them more money, well, change that," urged Usman. "You be that cash cow. You be that guy that brings in more money. So, I don't want to hear that from a champion, because that just sounds like whining to me. You want to change the narrative, then go out there and change that narrative."

The context of this discussion arises from Usman's own experience. After defeating Covington twice in intense title fights, Usman lost his belt to Edwards at UFC 278, following a successful run of five title defenses. Furthermore, Usman faced Edwards in a trilogy fight at UFC 286, which culminated in a close decision loss.

As Edwards prepares to defend his title against Covington on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the champion will have an opportunity to prove Usman's advice right. The fight will be the main event of UFC 296, with the main card airing on pay-per-view, preceded by prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.

It remains to be seen how Edwards will tackle the challenge, but his willingness to embrace the role of a revenue generator could potentially reshape the UFC's narrative and put an end to any perceived favoritism. As fight night approaches, MMA fans eagerly await the showdown between Edwards and Covington, with the welterweight crown hanging in the balance.