Leon Edwards and Colby Covington had to be kept apart at the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of UFC 296 – with the Brit still seething over comments about his late father.
Edwards erupted 24 hours earlier when Covington said: ‘I’m bringing you to the seventh layer of hell. ‘We’ll say “what’s up” to your dad while we’re there.’
And when asked by Joe Rogan on stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena what he was feeling on Friday on the eve of the fight, Edwards issued a chilling, short response.
He said: ‘That man is as good as dead tomorrow. Make sure you keep everything you said about my dad.
‘Tomorrow, we can settle it.’
Leon Edwards (left) had to be held back from Colby Covington in the final face-off
Covington meanwhile, wore a broad grin for much of the proceedings. He was booed my many in the crowd in a clear response to Thursday’s antics.
But he turned a few into cheers when saying: ‘Las Vegas, Nevada, are you ready for an American revolution? This fight tomorrow night is for all the men and women in law enforcement.
‘All our troops past and present. And the whole entire MAGA movement. You can delay us, but you cannot deny us.
‘Trump is taking back the White House and I’m taking back the undisputed tomorrow night. This one’s for America, let’s go!’
The fight has been overshadowed by Covington’s vile remark that prompted Edwards to fling a water bottle at him on Thursday.
Edwards’ father was shot and killed in a London nightclub in what his son believes was a dispute over money.
Edwards issued a chilling warning ahead of Saturday night’s main event
‘Rocky’ is usually a composed fighter but may have been rattled by his opponent
Edwards was raised by his mother and has previously recalled being told the tragic news about his father when he was a young teen.
He said: ‘It was probably like 2am. I was in my room. Mum was in her room. We hear the phone ringing. I heard her crying, and I knew from then something bad, you know.
‘Eventually, she came into my room and just told me this, your dad’s just got killed in London. It was something to do with money. I don’t know what exactly. It was some mad s***, but I knew that it could happen.
‘It f****d me up. It pushed me more into gang life and crime, toward the negative. My mid-teens were my darkest years,’ he said.
‘Rocky’ is usually a cool customer and one of his great strength in a fight is his composure and decision making.
Whether Covington will have affected his by getting under his skin remains to be seen but there is now another layer of fascination around how the main event will unfold in Las Vegas.
Covington was booed when he came out in a clear reaction to his words on Thursday
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