UFC 296 is headlined by a welterweight title bout between champion Leon Edwards and challenger Colby Covington. It is a battle lengthy within the making.
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave his prediction of the welterweight title bout on the MMArcade Podcast on Wednesday.
Covington’s smack speak main as much as the battle has been nonstop. Edwards considers him a ‘character’ and would not pay a lot consideration to it.
“Colby is an actual life keyboard warrior,” mentioned Whittaker. “He is a keyboard warrior in actual life. It is just for the cameras, everybody is aware of it at this level… When he get in entrance of the cameras, he turns it on 100. I find it irresistible. I am right here for it.”
“In case you had been to ask me earlier than the second Usman battle, or third battle, the second title battle with Usman, if Leon had a hope in heck towards Colby, I might have mentioned no. No manner, simply because I have been ringside for Colby’s fights and I’ve seen the amount and output, his skill to throw 3,600 punches then shoot, fail the shot, come up once more and begin throwing once more solely to reshoot. To try this for 5 rounds is uncanny,” Whittaker continued. “He is obtained an additional lung. Evidently manner. However this was earlier than the efficiency Leon placed on final time.
“I feel the efficiency he placed on towards Usman in his final battle actually outlined how he’ll beat Colby. The place Colby’s had issues is with guys he cannot simply stroll into and take down. We noticed that with the Usman fights. He could not stroll by way of his punches to take him down, put on him out a bit, after which begin to beat him within the punches due to that like we noticed Colby do towards [Robbie] Lawler, like we have seen him do towards a whole lot of different guys. I feel Leon, within the final battle, confirmed me that he can defend takedowns, extra importantly, he can threaten you in an area earlier than the takedowns even occur. So, you’r nervous and also you’re at risk coming into that area, simply making an attempt to get in there.
“Being a southpaw too, nice benefit. To get in that vary, you are at risk. Even whenever you do get in that vary perhaps you took pictures, perhaps you did not, you may’t cement what you risked so extremely to get in there. I feel the way in which he fought Usman in his final battle, Leon, was spectacular and the efficiency form of highlighted for me how he beats Colby.”
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“I’ll lead on Edwards. I feel I noticed sufficient. I feel he’ll have too many weapons. I feel he’ll preserve Colby guessing, or not less than threatened, so he cannot simply recklessly get in there which he is carried out on some opponents. And I do assume, for instance, heaven forbid, he closes that hole, he pushed him up towards the fence, I do not assume he’ll be capable to maintain him all the way down to the purpose the place he can make cash on it, like a major return on his funding. I feel we might see a call win, however the different manner. I feel Leon Edwards might win by resolution,” Whittaker mentioned.
