Former President Donald Trump had the crowd roaring when he entered the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night with his old friends Kid Rock and Dana White for UFC 296.
The arena jumped to its feet as Trump, 77, made a grand entrance, shaking hands with fans and UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan ahead of the highly anticipated welterweight championship fight. between Leon Edwards, from the United Kingdom, and Colby Covington, from Florida.
Covington, an outspoken supporter of the 45th president, he said before the fight that Trump would put the belt on him if he defeated Edwards.
As he walked toward the Octagon, Covington stopped by the seats next to Trump’s cage and the two exchanged words.
The former commander-in-chief patted the fighter’s knee encouragingly before the 35-year-old jumped into the ring.
Trump and Kid Rock attend the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images UFC President Dana White and Trump attend the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
However, Trump never had the opportunity to name Covington the new world champion.
Edwards, the defending champion, comfortably defeated challenger Covington in five rounds by unanimous judges’ decision 49-46, 49-46, 49-46.
Covington had not fought since March 2022.
After the loss, Covington, with an American flag draped over his shoulders, gave Trump a “shout out” as boos rained down on him from the crowd.
Colby Covington speaks with Trump at the start of the UFC welterweight championship fight during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“You can delay us but you can’t deny us. He will make America great again. We need these borders to be secure, we need inflation to go down, and we need to put America first again. “Donald Trump is the only one who is going to do that again: Trump 2024!” the Scream.
The camera then panned to Trump, who flashed an approving smile at the MMA fighter, who disagreed with the judge’s ruling on the fight.
He compared his loss to Trump’s 2020 loss in a “rigged election,” he said.
Trump watches the flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil (top) and Brandon Royval of the United States during UFC 296. Getty Images
The Octagon wasn’t the only place where fights broke out during the event.
Fighters Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, who weren’t even on the UFC 296 card, exchanged words in the crowd before Strickland apparently asked spectators behind him to get out of the way.
He then jumps over the seats and begins hitting Du Plessis’ head with his right hand before the two separate, with the help of UFC CEO White, according to MMA Mania.
Trump, a well-known boxing and mixed martial arts fan, made an appearance at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden last month when he entered with Rock, White, Tucker Carlson and his son Don Jr.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn