UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington and lightweight Tony Ferguson had fans confused at the UFC 296 press conference when a heated exchange quickly turned into an unlikely bond over their American roots. 

Covington and Ferguson were present to promote Saturday's pay-per-view in which both are slated to fight British opposition. Ferguson will face surging Merseyside native Paddy Pimblett while Covington challenges champion Leon Edwards for the welterweight strap. 

The profanity-filled exchange began when Ferguson interrupted the visibly patriotic Covington about being 'more American'. The minute-long back and forth included Covington jabbing at Ferguson's six-fight losing streak and belittling their respective weight classes. Ferguson also told Covington: 'Get Trump's s**k out of your mouth,' before expressing their mutual support for each other. 

'Alright Colby let's f*****g do this s***,' Ferguson said. 'F*** yeah, America motherf*****s.'

'Let's go Team America,' Covington responded. 

Fans commented on the interaction between two of the UFC's biggest characters on social media.

'That was the most odd back and forth I've ever witnessed,' one fan wrote. 

'Literally quite possibly the most American thing ever,' another added. 

A former lightweight challenger and interim title holder, Ferguson looks to break his six-fight skid against Pimblett on Saturday. Ferguson tied 12 straight wins and infamously had his title bouts with former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov cancelled five times before his losing streak began in 2020. 

Ferguson holds a 26-9 MMA record while Pimblett, who the UFC has built as one of the next British stars, is 20-3 in his career. 

On the other hand, Covington is getting his third welterweight title shot despite being inactive for nearly two years. Covington, 17-3, failed both challenges against former champion Kamaru Usman before wining his last fight in March 2022 against Jorge Masvidal.

Covington will once again attempt to capture gold, this time against Edwards who has not lost in his last 12 fights. Edwards, 21-3, won and defended the title against Usman in his last two outings. 

Ferguson and Pimblett will open UFC 296 main card leading up to Covington and Edwards' meeting on Saturday. The pay-per-view begins at 10 P.M. ET, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.