Leon Edwards throws a bottle at Colby Covington at UFC 296 press conference as tempers fray after American made vile joke about British rival’s dead father

Tempers frayed at Leon Edwards and Colby Covington’s pre-UFC 296 press conference on Thursday, after the American made a distasteful joke about his opponent’s late father.

Brit Edwards sat alongside his American rival Covington in Las Vegas to speak ahead of the fight, but things turned personal midway through the press conference.

‘I’m bringing you to the seventh layer of hell,’ Trump-supporting Covington told Edwards, before adding: ‘We’ll say “what’s up” to your dad while we’re there.’

Edwards’ demeanor quickly changed and he threw a bottle at his rival, who was wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ cap, as well as fancy dress.

The bottle struck Covington, leading to both fighters immediately standing up to confront each other before security stepped in to separate them. 

Tempers frayed between the pair when Covington made a joke about Leon Edwards’ dad

British fighter Edwards was calm until Covington made a distasteful joke about his late father