Los Angeles, Dec 19: Joe Rogan questions UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ strategy in his win over Colby Covington.
Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) retained his title in what was a lackluster but efficient performance over Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in this past Saturday’s UFC 296 headliner at T-Mobile Arena. Edwards engaged in the grappling with Covington toward the end of the fight, which Rogan thought was a mistake. The grappling exchanges resulted in Edwards finishing the fight on his back.
“What was interesting is that he made choices tonight that were not the best choices to win the fight but almost like to prove a point,” Rogan, who called the fight cageside, said after UFC 296 (h/t ESPN). “Like, he chose to engage Colby in grappling in moments where he did not have to, where he could have defended and got back up to his feet.
I think that would be a better path to victory where he could have completely dominated the fight, absolutely dominated it.”Instead, Edwards admitted that he wanted to prove he could take down Covington. While he managed to twice, he allowed Covington to mount his most significant offense, which lost him Round 5 on all three judges’ scorecards. (Agencies)