Eddie Hearn tears apart Colby Covington for insulting Leon Edwards' late father, he didn't hold back

Eddie Hearn has made his opinion clear on Colby Covington after the American insulted Leon Edwards' late father prior to UFC 296.

Covington will face defending champion Edwards for the UFC Welterweight Championship at the event, which takes place in Nevada on Saturday night (Sunday morning UK time).

The 35-year-old hasn't fought since beating Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision in March 2022, while Edwards' most recent fight was a year later when he retained his belt against Kamaru Usman in London.

The pre-fight press conference took place earlier this week, and while sparks were expected to fly given Covington's outspoken views in the past, viewers were shocked at an insult he aimed towards Edwards' late father, who was shot and killed in a London nightclub when the UFC champion was just 13.

He shouted: "I'm bringing you to the seventh layer of hell. We'll say what's up to your dad while we're there."

Covington was condemned by MMA journalists and his fellow fighters, who claimed that he had 'gone too far' and had performed a 'scumbag move'.

Ahead of UFC 296, boxing promoter Hearn was asked about the American's comment - and left viewers in no doubt as to his views on the matter.

He told IFL TV: "Just nasty, wrong.

"I don't know anything about UFC. I've met Leon a couple of times. Lovely fella. I hope he smashes that geezer to pieces tomorrow night.

"How can you say that? I know you can get carried away, but you've got to have some kind of compassion. A horrible thing to say. But anyway, it's the fight game isn't it?"

Edwards will look to secure a statement victory over his opponent - who attempted to have former US president Donald Trump walk him to the ring on Saturday night.

Covington, who attended the press conference wearing a 'Make America Great Again' cap adorned by the former Republican president, revealed that Trump's security means it is 'logistically too tough' for him to be involved in the walk-on, although it is said that the 77-year-old will be present at cageside.