Leon Edwards and Colby Covington will face off in the final UFC welterweight title fight of 2023 at UFC 296, while Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight championship against Brandon Royval in a rematch.
Leon Edwards and Colby Covington are set to go head-to-head for the UFC welterweight title in what promises to be an electrifying showdown. The highly-anticipated clash will occur at UFC 296, the final fight of 2023, on December 16 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Excitement surrounding the event is mounting, with the recently unveiled fight card poster showcasing the two skilled contenders.
Edwards will be defending his title for the second time, entering the bout on a remarkable 11-fight winning streak. Impressively, he has already conquered the man who was once dethroned by him, Kamaru Usman. On the other side of the octagon, Covington will be making his long-awaited return, having not fought since his victory over Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272 back in March 2022.
Adding to the intensity of the UFC 296 lineup is a rematch between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. Pantoja, the newly crowned flyweight champion, will put his title on the line against Royval, seeking redemption from their previous encounter. In their initial meeting at UFC Vegas 34 in August 2021, Pantoja emerged victorious, submitting Royval in the second round.
Fans and enthusiasts eagerly await this thrilling night of MMA action. As the card takes shape, the anticipation grows for what promises to be an unforgettable event. With both the welterweight title clash between Edwards and Covington, as well as the rematch between Pantoja and Royval, UFC 296 is shaping up to be an unmissable spectacle for fight fans worldwide.