Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman knew about Colby Covington being the backup fighter a while ago - Ariel Helwani

According to Ariel Helwani, a prominent MMA journalist, both Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman were aware that former welterweight title challenger Colby Covington was the designated backup fighter for the UFC 286 main event.

This means that if either Edwards or Usman had been unable to compete for any reason, Covington would have stepped in as a replacement.

Helwani's claim suggests that the presence of Covington as a backup fighter was not a surprise to either Edwards or Usman. It is possible that they may have been preparing for the eventuality of facing him, even though he was not originally scheduled to fight in the main event.

Helwani claimed on Twitter:

"Covington's weigh in today may have been a surprise to the public, but I'm told both Edwards and Usman knew about it a while ago."

Ariel Helwani's assertion that Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman knew about Colby Covington being the backup fighter for the UFC 286 main event has caught many fight fans off guard. Both Edwards and Usman had previously denied the possibility of Covington being the backup for the highly anticipated event in London. So it was surprising to hear that they were aware of the situation.

---

Belal Muhammad claims Colby Covington offered to be replacement at UFC 286 to avoid fighting him

Colby Covington successfully made weight as the backup fighter for the UFC 286 main event, confirming reports that he was in London and ready to step in if either Leon Edwards or Kamaru Usman were unable to fight. However, both Edwards and Usman were able to make weight, so Covington did not end up competing in the event.

Despite his readiness to step in, some fans and fighters are skeptical of Covington's true intentions. Welterweight contender Belal Muhammad, for instance, tweeted a photo and caption alleging that he had agreed to fight 'Chaos' at the event, but that Covington had turned down the fight.

Muhammad suggested that the former interim champion may have offered to serve as a replacement simply to avoid fighting him.

'Remember The Name' wrote:

"He turns down a fight on the same card so he can weigh in and not have to fight."

These claims add an interesting dimension to the situation, as Muhammad suggested that Covington's appearance as a backup fighter may have been motivated by strategic considerations rather than a genuine willingness to compete at the event.