Paddy Pimblett hopes Leon Edwards sends Colby Covington ‘into shadow realm’ over controversial remarks

Paddy Pimblett predicts that Colby Covington will pay for his remark about Leon Edwards’ late father at the UFC 296 press conference.

Pimblett, who will face Tony Ferguson at Saturday’s stacked pay-per-view card in Las Vegas, was asked by Chris Weidman about Covington’s shot at Edwards at the press conference, and if it’s possible to cross the line in fight promotion.

“That was way too far, I wanted to jump up and punch him in the back of the head,” Pimblett said on the UFC’s weigh-in show. “I wanted to hit him. That was way too far. You can’t say something about someone’s dad.

“If someone said something about my nana of grandma, I’d jump up and punch them in the face.”

Pimblett had his own heated moments at the press conference with his opponent, but they kept things mostly fight related. “The Baddy” — who makes his return to the octagon for the first time in over a year on a six-fight win streak — recalls the moment Edwards reacted to Covington’s remark, and the current welterweight champion needing to be restrained before making his prediction for the main event bout.

“Rightfully so, [Edwards needed to be held back],” Pimblett said. “I hope he knocks [Covington] clean out. I hope he sends him to the shadow realm.

“I think he’ll go out thinking of his dad and knock him clean out. I can’t see Colby Covington lasting five rounds with him. I know he’s got the cardio, he’s got the takedowns. If Usman couldn’t take [Edwards] down — and I know MMA math doesn’t work, but Colby couldn’t take Usman down, he’s not going to be able to take Edwards down. I can see Edwards beating him up for three rounds and then knocking him out.”