Amid the seemingly ever-expanding list of Colby Covington critics, Jon Jones stands near the top of the list.
The UFC heavyweight champion Jones is a former college roommate of Covington’s and has on several occasions stated his disdain for the former interim welterweight champion who was comprehensively outpointed by Leon Edwards in last weekend’s UFC 296 main event in Las Vegas.
“Colby is by far the most heinous human being I’ve ever encountered in my life,” Jones wrote on social media last week, referencing the comments made by Sean Strickland in defence of Edwards after Covington raised the topic of his late father during a press conference. I won’t even get into personal stories, he’s an absolutely terrible human being.”
Late on Saturday night, after Edwards’ conclusive win over Covington, Jones took to social media once more to congratulate the welterweight champion on his successful title defence.
Respect G.O.A.T it was easy work. means a lot coming from you. I don’t ride bikes but I will take a rollie tho 😂😂😂 https://t.co/WkzOfJb6fu
— Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards (@Leon_edwardsmma) December 19, 2023
“Leon Edwards, I couldn’t be more happy for you. As an American champion in this game, I salute you, that was truly a job well done. Let me know if I can gift you a motorcycle or something for Christmas. Feel like I owe you one,” Jones wrote, later adding in a separate post that it would be his “pleasure” to get Edwards “whatever he wants.”
And responding to Jones very early on Tuesday morning, Edwards elaborated on what he might like to see under his tree on Christmas morning.
“Respect GOAT, it was easy work,” Edwards said. “Means a lot coming from you. I don’t ride bikes but I will take a rollie tho,” he wrote, adding a string of laughing emojis.
Jones and Edwards, while relatively new champions in their respective weight classes, both hold extended undefeated streaks in mixed martial arts. Save for a freak DQ loss against Matt Hamill back in 2009, Jones has yet to taste legitimate defeat in the cage in 29 professional bouts dating back to 2008.
Edwards’ win over Covington, meanwhile, extends his own unbeaten streak to 13 and he has not lost since a decision defeat to Kamaru Usman in 2015. He has since avenged that loss twice over, including handing Usman his first loss in almost a decade in his title-winning performance in August 2022.
