UFC sensation Colby Covington has once again thrust himself into the spotlight, taking aim at NBA icon LeBron James for what he perceives as disrespect towards the American National Anthem. In a recent pre-fight press conference for UFC 296, Covington didn’t mince words, branding James a ‘coward’ and urging him to leave the country if he harbors such strong anti-American sentiments.
The feud stems from a viral video capturing LeBron James sitting during the national anthem at a recent game where his son, Bronny James, was playing. Fans took to social media, criticizing the basketball legend for what they deemed as a lack of patriotism. This incident reignited Covington’s previous grievances with James, dating back to 2019 when a throwback video showed LeBron cheering during the national anthem.
Colby Covington left his media day interview and then came back to say this …
"F*ck Lebron James" #UFC296
His return was unexpected so his microphone was not on for the first few seconds* pic.twitter.com/AvxWRPcRfH
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) December 13, 2023
Colby Challenges LeBron to the Octagon Amidst Patriotism Dispute
During his verbal onslaught, Covington didn’t just stop at criticising James’ actions but went further, challenging the NBA star to face him in the octagon. The UFC star didn’t shy away from expressing his disdain, stating, “If you hate America so much and you don’t like this country that gave you a billion dollars, leave it or come deal with me. Go to China, go to the sweatshops that you employ all these laborers.”
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Covington didn’t spare James in his scathing remarks, accusing him of exploiting cheap labor in Chinese sweatshops to amass his wealth. In colourful language, he denounced LeBron James as a ‘spineless coward’ and didn’t hold back on expressing his contempt.
Known for his verbal prowess, Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington is set to bring his fighting spirit to the main event at UFC 296 on December 16. The former UFC interim welterweight champion will face off against current UFC welterweight champion Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards for the coveted championship title. As both fighters gear up for what promises to be a high-stakes showdown, the war of words between Covington and LeBron James adds an intriguing layer of drama to the lead-up of UFC’s final event of the year.