Two UFC fighters have had to be separated at their pre-bout news conference in Las Vegas after one told the other his dead father was in hell.

American challenger Colby Covington, 35, told his British opponent Leon Edwards “I’m bringing you to the seventh layer of hell [in Saturday’s fight]. We’ll say ‘what’s up’ to your dad when we’re there.”

Edwards, 32, reacted by throwing a water bottle in Covington’s direction. The pair, who both jumped up from their seats, were quickly separated by security staff.

Jamaica-born fighter Edwards’ father was shot dead in a nightclub when he was just 13.

Covington, nicknamed “Chaos”, wore a colonial-era outfit with a wispy white wig and a “Make America Great Again” cap to the event and made patriotic references to the American Revolution, which went down well with US fans present.

Referencing his clothes, he said: “1776 baby, this is the American revolution. General Washington started it, general Covington ends it.”

Edwards, who is based in Birmingham, was booed by most of the audience as he walked on stage at the start, while fans cheered and stood up to film Covington as he bowed after making his entrance.

Birmingham: Hammer attacker caught after discussing killing best friend on bus

Ashley Day death: Teenager facing jail after killing footballer at party

Two football fans arrested over alleged abuse of female referee

Saturday’s contest is Edwards’ second defence of his title after beating Kamaru Usman earlier this year, while Covington is fighting for the first time since a win over Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

Read more:
Big Bang Theory star diagnosed with lung cancer
Andre Braugher’s cause of death revealed
After-school Satan club goes ahead

Covington, who sat back with his feet on the table while grinning for the majority of the news conference, insulted a number of fighters besides Edwards, including Tony Ferguson and Stephen Thompson who are on the UFC 296 undercard, and Ian Garry, who pulled out of his bout with Vicente Luque on Wednesday after contracting pneumonia.

Covington’s jibes were mostly received in good spirit by Edwards, who has said previously he doesn’t take the American’s persona seriously, until the crass remark about his father was made.

The pair then engaged in a tense stand-off after the news conference amid a heavy security presence.

Related posts:

Champagne spiked with Ecstasy kills one man and leaves seven people in hospital Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers feared dead after attack on barracks ‘while troops slept’ Thousands of Mariupol residents ‘forcibly’ taken to Russia, mayor claims Britain and allies face ‘1937 moment’ following Ukraine war, head of army to warn Boy missing for eight days found in sewer ‘could not have lifted the heavy manhole cover’, police say Spain confirms Europe’s first-known monkeypox-related death of current outbreak Adolf Hitler’s watch sells for nearly £1m in auction condemned by Jewish leaders COVID data from animal market ‘gives clues on origins of virus’ India to surpass China as the most populated country in world Messi to join Inter Miami, club confirms Two years on from the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan, women fight back against poverty and restrictions ‘Drunk’ American tourists ‘slept in Eiffel Tower after dodging staff’