Covington: Edwards 'should hang them up' after UFC London loss

Colby Covington believes former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards should retire after his latest defeat.

Edwards came up short in the UFC London main event this past weekend, losing to Sean Brady via fourth-round submission. It was the first stoppage loss of his career.

Covington, a former interim champ who unsuccessfully challenged Edwards for the title at UFC 296 in December 2023, suggested Edwards no longer has the will to compete.

"I kind of thought that after I fought Leon, the motivation wasn't there anymore," Covington said on Tuesday's edition of "Submission Radio." "I could tell in the fight - I broke my foot immediately and he did nothing. He didn't try and come after me. He just tried to point-coast to a decision. I could tell after that fight he just wasn't hungry anymore.

"He's made too much money. I made him too much money at that press conference. I just don't think he's motivated anymore, and he should hang them up."

Brady beat Edwards in one-sided fashion, completing five takedowns, amassing 11 minutes of control time, and outstriking him 221-23 before forcing the tap with a guillotine choke.

Edwards has lost two in a row for the first time in his 28-fight career. The Jamaican-born Englishman dropped the belt to Belal Muhammad last July after successfully defending it twice against former champion Kamaru Usman and Covington. Edwards, 33, was unbeaten for seven years and 13 fights before his recent slump.

Covington, ranked No. 9 in the welterweight division, has hit a rough patch himself. The 37-year-old is coming off a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa last December and is 1-3 in his past four Octagon appearances.