Whatever Donald Trump told Colby Covington moments before his UFC 296 main event clash with Leon Edwards did not appear to have the desired effect.<br /><br />The former president was sat on the front row beside the Octagon in Las Vegas and Covington, a huge Trump supporter, was sure to fist bump his hero and take on board some final words of advice. <br /><br />What followed was a below-par display that saw him lose to Edwards via decision.<br /><br />Covington made no secret of his support for Trump in the build-up, and the 35-year-old, who was returning to the octagon for the first time in two years, was eager to see the former POTUS heavily involved.<br /><br />While reality went on to bite at the TMobile Arena, before the fight Covington was envisioning Trump placing the championship belt around him. <br /><br />UFC president Dana White typically places the championship belt over the winning fighter - but Covington had a pre-fight request.<br /><br />'I asked Dana, respectfully, could he step to the side and let Donald Trump put it on,' Covington told the Full Send podcast.<br /><br />'That would mean everything to me, man. I'm his biggest fan, he's my biggest role model. What better way for him to put the belt around me?<br /><br />'Who better than the most famous person on planet Earth, Donald Trump, to give me the belt?'<br /><br />Trump made sure he had a prime view of the action, arriving with White to sit aside the octagon.<br /><br />There were some jeers while others gave the former POTUS a standing ovation in what is the fourth time he has attended a UFC event this year. His presence also triggered chants of 'f**k Joe Biden', which he no doubt enjoyed.<br /><br />Trump has previously attended events including UFC 287 in Miami and UFC 290, which was also held in Las Vegas. <br /><br />But in the end, Trump was made to watch one of his biggest supporters fall well short under the bright lights. <br /><br />Covington barely registered a scratch on an accomplished Edwards in what was a match-up that didn't live up to the billing in Vegas. <br /><br />Not that that will bother Edwards too much after he successfully defended his UFC welterweight title via unanimous decision.<br /><br />Edwards executed a leg kick-heavy game plan while negating most of Covington's takedown attempts to tally 49-46 across all three scorecards.
