UFC 296 Edwards v Covington Betting Preview and Predictions
If you’re a follower of combat sports, you’ll know a hectic December lies ahead as we finish the year on a high. There’s plenty for boxing lovers to get stuck into with some eye-catching bouts on the programme. But lovers of mixed martial arts have plenty more to celebrate thanks to the eagerly anticipated latest edition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship series. UFC 296 comes from Paradise, Nevada, a little over a week before Christmas. You can follow all the action from the stadium live on television or the best live-streaming apps on Saturday, 16th December. Clear room in your December diary, as you won’t want to miss this one.
Paddy Pimblett returns to the octagon as the Englishman from Liverpool aims to add another win to an already impressive CV. Paddy ‘The Baddy’ has taken victory in each of his past six outings and remains unbeaten in the UFC, his last defeat coming on the Cage Warriors promotion early in his career. Paddy meets Tony Ferguson, who is good enough to defeat most opponents at this level when in the mood and showing his best form. The only drawback for Ferguson’s followers is he enters winless in his last six.
You can read an in-depth preview and our expert predictions on Pimblett v Ferguson here. On this page, our team of fight game content writers shine the spotlight on the main event where Leon Edwards faces off against Colby Covington. The pair meet to decide the interim UFC welterweight title. Edwards is the current keeper of that award but knows he faces a stern challenge retaining it against a dangerous opponent.
Edwards v Covington odds
Traders working at the the best UFC betting sites offer odds on Edwards v Covington. You can join any sportsbook mentioned on this page by clicking the link, creating an account, depositing funds, and gambling on MMA. When your first wager results, the best bookies offer a welcome bonus free bet you can use on Edwards v Covington. But who wins, which market should you bet on, and where will you find the most generous odds?
The pre-fight betting odds available at UK-based online betting giant BetVictor offer victory for Leon Edwards at 4/5, which makes him the narrow betting favourite. The traders expect a tight contest but have selected Edwards as the most likely winner. The pre-fight betting odds available on Colby Covington offer him at evens, which will catch the eye of many value hunters. But how should you play this fight?
The traders seem happy to sit on the fence, offering competitive odds and allowing customers to pick sides. When there’s indecision in the betting ring, it’s great news for gamblers as they can research the fight, make predictions, and claim generous odds. Will Edwards retain his title and set up a huge, money-spinning fight next year? Make your predictions and gamble.
If you prefer a slightly higher price than what’s available, you can try the method of victory market. Pick a fighter to win and push your luck a little further by predicting how they’ll secure the victory. Will Edwards win by knockout, or perhaps you prefer Covington to win on the judges’ decision. Study the stats and recent form of both fighters to claim the value.
Rocky is unbeaten in eight years
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards arrives as the defending champion with an impressive record. The 32-year-old from Birmingham, England, brings a CV detailing 21 wins and three defeats. He has won 11 fights by decision, seven by knockout, and three by submission. Will he add another showreel knockout win to his record, impressing an American audience with his power and speed? That’s sure to be popular with gamblers as Rocky boasts power in both his hands and feet, making him a danger at any stage of the contest. He’s good enough to win in the first round or last round.
Edwards’ last defeat came against Kamaru Usman at UFC Florida in December 2015. Since that points decision loss over three rounds, Leon has fought a dozen times, winning 11 and suffering one no-contest. The spare was due to an accidental eye poke in Las Vegas two years ago, but Edwards wasted no time getting back on track. Since that no-contest, he has fought three times and won three times with two wins on the scorecards. He was last seen beating Kamaru Usman in a majority decision on UFC 286.
Chaos Covington suffers mixed results
Colby Covington enters the octagon as the challenger, and he’ll have plenty of support inside the arena on fight night. He faces an opponent enjoying a long winning streak, but his record and recent form don’t bring the same optimism. His CV shows why he’s challenging for the belt with 17 wins and three defeats. Nine of his previous victories have been on the scorecards, with four by submission and the remaining four by knockout. His three losses are evenly split between one KO, one on points, and one by submission.
Concentrating on his recent form, Colby has won two and lost two of his last four. That unconvincing spell began with a TKO defeat to old rival Usman before responding with a TKO win over Tyron Woodley in his comeback bout. It was one step forward and one back when Chaos lost to Kamaru again on UFC 268 before he beat Jorge Masvidal on points on UFC 272 in Las Vegas. That bagged him a Fight of the Night bonus, meaning Colby arrives high on confidence. He’s at a crossroads in his career, and the outcome of this bout should decide where he goes from here.
Take Edwards on points
This promises to be a competitive contest, and it’s a pick-em-bout. We’re hot on Edwards’ chances due to his better recent form and the momentum that accompanies it. He has won two of his last three by decision, and we’re backing another points win.
