The year is coming to an end and UFC has one pay-per-view left on its 2023 calendar. Welterweight champion Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington headlines the Dec. 16 card in Las Vegas with support from Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval for the flyweight crown.
It’s been a long, long time since Edwards has tasted defeat. England’s second UFC champion is unbeaten dating back to a 2015 setback against Kamaru Usman that he has since avenged twice. The trilogy is behind him and Edwards looks ahead to new challenges. It feels like Covington has curried favor with UFC matchmakers, being granted a third undisputed title shot despite his flimsy case. Covington is 3-2 with wins over three fighters who have since retired. Covington’s most impressive performances were arguably close, losing efforts to Usman in title fights.
Can’t get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news.
Pantoja vs. Royval should be an action-packed co-main event. Pantoja captured the flyweight championship from Brandon Moreno in a grueling five-round split decision at UFC 290 that earned Fight of the Night honors. Royval is on a three-fight winning streak since losing to Pantoja with back-to-back bonuses.
The undercard is loaded up with big names looking to make a big splash. Rising welterweight contender Shavkat Rakmonov is back as he takes on former title challenger and de facto divisional gatekeeper Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Plus, Paddy Pimblett looks to bounce back from injury when he makes his lone walk to the Octagon in 2023 against lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson. And more top welterweights collide to open the PPV when Ian Machado Garry takes on Vicente Luque.
Below is the complete fight card for UFC 296 along with the latest odds. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.
UFC 296 fight card, odds
- Leon Edwards (c) -125 vs. Colby Covington +105, welterweight title
- Alexandre Pantoja (c) -165 vs. Brandon Royval +140, flyweight title
- Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson, welterweights
- Paddy Pimblett -250 vs. Tony Ferguson +205, lightweights
- Ian Machado Garry -280 vs. Vicente Luque +230, welterweights
- Giga Chikadze vs Josh Emmett, featherweights
- Irene Aldana -210 vs. Karol Rosa +175, women’s bantamweights
- Cody Garbrandt -220 vs. Brian Kelleher +180, bantamweights
- Casey O’Neill -165 vs. Ariane Lipski +140, women’s flyweights
- Dustin Jacoby -220 vs. Alonzo Menifield +180, light heavyweights
- Martin Buday -180 vs. Shamil Gaziev +155, heavyweights
- Tagir Ulanbekov -150 vs. Cody Durden +125, flyweights
- Randy Brown -195 vs. Muslim Salikhov +165, welterweights
UFC 296 info
- Date: Dec. 16
- Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV
