UFC 296 gets underway this weekend, headlined with a Welterweight title fight as the main event. Leon Edwards is set to defend his title against Colby Covington, after taking the belt from Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. He successfully defended the title in a rematch against Usman at UFC 286.
Covington is a former interim Welterweight champion himself, who failed to take back the belt on two separate occasions (in 2019 and 2021), also against Kamaru Usman. However, Covington will get another crack at the belt this coming Saturday, December 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ahead of the fight, Covington and other fighters on the card addressed the media, and Colby wasted no time making headlines. Donning a custom-made red and white suit gifted to him by former President Donald Trump, he took aim at Los Angeles Laker and future NBA Hall of Famer, LeBron James.
LeBron was in the news this week, both for winning the NBA In-Season Tournament, where he was named the MVP, and… oh yeah, casually sitting on his a** during the national anthem. LeBron attended his son Bronny’s first basketball game at USC over the weekend, and much to ire of the general public, was filmed sitting down during the national anthem.
And yeah, it’s a free country, do whatever you want… but maybe wait until the anthem is over to go in, or show some respect, eh? It’s not too much to ask…
LeBron generally doesn’t do himself many favors when it comes to his own likeability. Sure, plenty of people (who never saw Jordan play) will call him the GOAT, and there may be some merit to that, but he’s just kinda smug, needlessly lies about pointless things like being the first person to listen to Migos, what books he’s reading, watching Liverpool play… he came to China’s defense when former Houston Rockets (now 76ers) GM Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong protestors… the list of things that make you go “eh, dude is pretty lame” is quite long.
Colby Covington sure as hell isn’t a fan and has made his thoughts known for a while. Back at UFC 272, Covington called out LeBron while thanking first responders:
“Before I go, I want to say a big thank you to the real heroes and celebrities in this country. Not that woke, spineless coward like LeBron James. I’m talking about our heroes, law enforcement, military, our first responders. God bless you, God bless you all. God bless America.”
And then earlier today, in light of this new national anthem controversy, tore him a new one at the press conference:
“I’m gonna say one last thing, I’m gonna say one last thing to you guys… f*** LeBron James.
If you hate America so much and you don’t like this country that gave you a billion dollars, leave it… or come deal with me. Go to China, go to these sweatshops that you employ all these laborers and use these women and pay them pennies on the dollar to make your millions.
F*** you LeBron James, you’re a coward, a spineless coward and you’re a b***h.”
