This weekend (Sat., Dec. 16, 2023) at UFC 296, the Welterweight title is on the line in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena. Headlining the event will be the reigning champion, Leon Edwards, who seeks his second consecutive successful defense against two-time challenger and one-time interim titleholder, Colby Covington. The co-main event will see another title on the line as Flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja, rematches Brandon Royval. Pantoja submitted Royval via second round rear-naked choke in August 2021.
Pantoja vs. Royval 2 pic.twitter.com/agNM9v7QRP
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) December 15, 2023
Also in attendance at today’s (Thurs., Dec. 14, 2023) pre-fight press conference was the pair of Welterweight contenders, the surging undefeated 17-0, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and two-time title challenger, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
Rakhmonov vs. Wonderboy pic.twitter.com/OnUHVKpy5R
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) December 15, 2023
Before Rakhmonov vs. Thompson, veteran and prospect Lightweight superstars collide when Tony Ferguson takes on Paddy Pimblett. The fight will be Pimblett’s first since he earned a unanimous decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in December 2022.
Ferguson vs. Pimblett pic.twitter.com/f2aUfki34k
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) December 15, 2023
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 295 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 295: “Prochazka vs. Pereira” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.