The top contenders in the UFC welterweight division haven’t been able to move forward due to the influence of Colby Covington. Leon Edwards looks to end his long run as a contender when he defends the UFC welterweight title against Covington at UFC 296 on December 16. The fight in the T-Mobile Arena airs on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S.
A former BAMMA welterweight champion, Edwards joined the UFC in 2014. Losing his third fight in the octagon against Kamaru Usman, Edwards has since gone 11-0 with one no-contest. At UFC 278, he landed a last-second head kick that took down Usman to win the UFC welterweight title. In a trilogy fight in March, Edwards retained the belt via majority decision.
A two-time Pac-10 Championships gold medalist, Covington turned pro in 2012. The All-American joined the UFC in 2014. He went on a six-fight win streak from 2016-2018, adopting a villain persona to adapt to the politics of today. Covington is 2-2 in his last four fights, losing against Usman twice for the UFC welterweight title. "Chaos" last fought in March 2022, beating friend-turned-rival Jorge Masvidal.
Since then, Covington and Masvidal have been involved in legal issues outside the octagon after the latter allegedly attacked Covington in Miami. Covington hasn’t fought since, while Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov have been active. It appears to be Covington’s last shot at gold.
WATCH: UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, exclusively on ESPN+
The co-main event will see Alexandre Pantoja defend the UFC flyweight title against Brandon Royval. Pantoja turned pro in 2007. The Brazilian joined the UFC in 2017 and is 10-3 in the octagon. He's on a four-fight win streak, beating Brandon Moreno in July for the UFC flyweight title. One of those wins came against Royval in 2021.
Royval turned pro in 2012. A former LFA flyweight champion, Royval joined the UFC in 2020. Since the loss against Pantoja, he has won three in a row. "Raw Dawg" last fought in April, beating Matheus Nicolau via knockout.
The Sporting News will provide all you need to know about UFC 296, from time, channel, odds, card, and more.
When is UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington?
UFC 296 is on December 16. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, with the prelims at 8 p.m. ET. The main card is at 10 p.m. ET. Edwards and Covington should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
| Region | Date | Early Prelims Start Time | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, December 16 | 6 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET | 12:15 a.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, December 16 | 3 p.m. PT | 5 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. PT | 9:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sunday, December 17 | 11 p.m. GMT | 1 a.m. GMT | 3 a.m. GMT | 5:15 a.m. GMT |
| Australia | Sunday, December 17 | 10 a.m. AEDT | 12 p.m. AEDT | 2 p.m. AEDT | 4:15 p.m. AEDT |
MORE: Ranked: The 25 best MMA fighters under the age of 25
How to watch UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Saturday, December 16 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Saturday, December 16 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sunday, December 17 | TNT Sports, TNT Sports Box Office |
| Australia | Sunday, December 17 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington PPV price: How much does UFC 296 cost?
In the U.S., the UFC 296 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 296 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $134.98 for the UFC 296 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
In the UK, the main card is on TNT Sports Box Office and will cost £19.99.
WATCH: UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $10.99/mo |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $109.99/yr |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $14.99/mo |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $24.99/mo |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $79.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $134.98, then $109.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle | $79.99, then $14.99/mo |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
Where is UFC 296?
UFC 296 is in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The arena can hold up to 20,000 people.
Betting odds for UFC 296
Per Bet MGM:
- Leon Edwards is the -135 favorite, while Colby Covington is the +110 underdog
- Alexandre Pantoja is the -175 favorite, while Brandon Royval is the +145 underdog
Leon Edwards record, bio
- Nationality: British
- Born: Aug. 25, 1991
- Height: 6-0
- Reach: 74 inches
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 21-3 with one no-contest, seven wins via knockout
Colby Covington record, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: Feb. 22, 1988
- Height: 5-11
- Reach: 72 inches
- Total fights: 20
- Record: 17-3 with four wins via knockout
MORE: How to bet on combat sports
Alexandre Pantoja record, bio
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Born: April 16, 1990
- Height: 5-5
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 31
- Record: 26-5 with eight wins via knockout
Brandon Royval record, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: August 16, 1992
- Height: 5-9
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 15-6 with four wins via knockout
UFC 296 fight card
Main card
- Leon Edwards (c) vs. Colby Covington for the UFC welterweight title
- Alexandre Pantoja (c) vs. Brandon Royval 2 for the UFC flyweight title
- Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson; Welterweights
- Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett; Lightweights
- Josh Emmet vs. Bryce Mitchell; Featherweights
Prelims
- Irene Aldana vs. Karol Rosa; Bantamweights
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Brian Kelleher; Bantamweights
- Casey O'Neill vs. Ariane Lipski; Flyweights
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Dustin Jacoby; Light Heavyweights
Early Prelims
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Cody Durden; Flyweights
- Andre Fili vs. Lucas Almeida; Featherweights
- Martin Buday vs. Shamil Gaziev; Heavyweights
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