Michael Chandler: Colby Covington has 'more tools, more ways to win' than Leon Edwards at UFC 296

Michael Chandler thinks Colby Covington’s wrestling will be too much for Leon Edwards.

Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) challenges welterweight champion Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 296 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.

Edwards is coming off back-to-back title wins over Kamaru Usman – rallying to knock him out at UFC 278, then edging him out by decision at UFC 286. Chandler dubbed Edwards’ first title win over Usman as lucky, and sees Covington overwhelming him.

“Colby, every single time he steps in there, he’s a force to be reckoned with,” Chandler said in an interview with Body Slam. “He’s a tough, tough guy. He’s durable. He’s got a motor like no other. Leon Edwards, I’ve got to be honest with you: I thought it was a fluke when he knocked out Kamaru Usman the first time, and I thought he was going to come back and get dominated by Kamaru, but obviously he beat Kamaru (in the rematch).

“I think Leon has a newfound self-belief in himself, but if I had to be a betting man, which I’m not, I would lean toward Colby. I think he has more tools. I think he has more ways to win. Leon’s not going to be able to stop the takedowns, I believe. He’s not going to be able to handle the pace of Colby, and I don’t think Leon’s going to get the lucky head kick he got against Kamaru.”

According to BetMGM, Covington is a +130 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on the challenger would net a $130 profit. Edwards is a -160 favorite, meaning a $160 bet would be needed on the champion to return $100 profit.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.