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.

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. 

What followed was a below par display that saw him lose to Edwards via decision.

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.

While reality went on to bite at the TMobile Arena, prior to the fight Covington was envisioning Trump placing the championship belt around him. 

UFC president Dana White typically places the championship belt over the winning fighter - but Covington had a pre-fight request.

'I asked Dana, respectfully, could he step to the side and let Donald Trump put it on,' Covington told the Full Send podcast.

'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?

'Who better than the most famous person on planet Earth, Donald Trump, to give me the belt?'

Trump made sure he had a prime view of the action, arriving with White to sit aside the octagon.

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.

Trump has previously attended events including UFC 287 in Miami and UFC 290, which also held in Las Vegas. 

But in the end Trump was made to watch one of his biggest supporters fall well short under the bright lights. 

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. 

Not that that will bother Edwards too much after he successfully defended his UFC welterweight title via unanimous decision.

Edwards executed a leg kick-heavy game plan while negating most of Covington's takedown attempts to tally 49-46 across all three score cards.