Summary
- UFC President Dana White wants welterweight champ Leon Edwards to fight Colby Covington next
- Edwards disagreed with White’s decision and refuses to fight Covington next
- Previous champs who have feuded with White have not had great careers in the UFC
UFC welterweight champ Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards had a memorable night in the UK as he successfully defended his title for the first time against former champ Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 on March 18. It turned out to be a close fight and Edwards ended up winning by decision!
UFC President Dana White who was present for UFC 286 told the media right after the fight that Edwards will defend his title next against Colby Covington who was the back-up fighter in case Edwards or Usman could not make the Main Event.
Edwards went on the MMA hour and did an interview with Ariel Helwani, the leading MMA sports journalist and also someone that UFC President Dana White intensely dislikes. He made it clear that although Dana White wants Colby Covington who is the number 2 contender in the division to fight for the belt next, Edwards does not plan on giving him a title shot next as he feels did he not earn it.
Edwards told Helwani that the ‘Dana White Privilege’ factor is real which is why Covington who hasn’t fought for over a year is being pushed to get a title shot. Edwards said that as the champ, he will have a say in who he decides to fight next!
It’s not a great idea for the Edwards to start a feud with President Dana White as there is enough examples out there to prove that champs who feuded with White don’t really do well in the UFC.
The most obvious example is former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou who continued to feud with White and the UFC on social media while he was champ. In the end, Ngannou could not continue working with the UFC and decided to relinquish his belt and move on.
Former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley also had issues with White stating that White and the UFC did not promote him enough and not long after Woodley lost his belt, he parted ways with the UFC.
If Edwards continues to decide to oppose Dana White and not accept the fight, he could be forced to relinquish his belt.
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