10 p.m. ET: ESPN+ PPV Main Event
8 p.m.: Prelims (ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes & SiriusXM Fight Nation 156)
6:30 p.m.: Early Prelims (ESPN+ & SiriusXM Fight Nation 156)
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UFC PPV action returns this weekend live from Las Vegas with UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington. The final UFC event of 2023 will be live from T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN+ PPV (English and Spanish). The Prelims will be available on ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and SiriusXM Fight Nation 156 starting at 8 p.m. The Early Prelims will be available on ESPN+ and SiriusXM Fight Nation 156 starting at 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will also join the Early Prelims beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Main Event
- Welterweight champion Leon Edwards steps into the Octagon with former interim titleholder and current No. 3 contender Colby Covington in an electrifying main event between heated rivals. Edwards (21-3) sets out to defend his title once again and cement himself as one of the UFC’s best. Covington (17-3) plans to show the world he deserves to be the undisputed UFC welterweight champion and add to his three first-round finishes.
Co-Main Event
- In the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends his title for the first time against No. 2 Brandon Royval in a high-stakes flyweight rematch where both fighters aim to add to their 10 first-round finishes. Pantoja (26-5) looks to deliver another win over Royval and build upon his legacy, while Royval (15-6) intends to not let history repeat itself.
Additional PPV Card Highlights
- 5 ranked welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov (17-0) intends to remain unbeaten and extend his perfect 100-percent finish rate (all 17 wins by stoppage) in a thrilling tilt with fan-favorite and 2-time UFC title challenger, No. 6 Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (17-6-1).
- In a high-stakes lightweight showdown, former interim UFC champion and winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13 Tony Ferguson (25-9) takes on Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett (20-3) and his perfect 4-0 UFC record.
ESPN+, ESPN.com, ESPN App UFC Content: Editorial, Live and Upcoming, On Demand, Studio Shows, Archives
- Friday: Love him or hate him, Colby Covington’s ready to cash in on his heel turn (Brett Okamoto)
- UFC 296 expert picks and best bets: How Colby Covington can upset Leon Edwards
- UFC 296 storylines: Can Covington finally win a title vs. Edwards?
- Las preguntas clave de UFC 296: ¿La tercera será la vencida para Covington? ¿Cómo Irene regresa a la contienda?
- UFC 296: ‘Paddy the Baddy’ meets his crossroads moment
- Por qué UFC 296 es una vitrina especial para Rakhmonov y Pimblett
- UFC 296 Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington: cómo ver o stream el PPV, horario, cartelera, apuestas y más
- Cuando ‘El Cucuy’ era la pesadilla del peso ligero: las peleas más importantes de Tony Ferguson en el UFC
- How to watch or stream the 2023 Fighters Only World MMA Awards
On The Call
- Jon Anik will call the action alongside Joe Rogan and former two-division Champion Daniel Cormier. Megan Olivi will handle reporting duties.
@ESPNMMA: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter)
Programming (All times ET)
| Thu.,
12/14 |
8 p.m. | UFC 296 Press Conference: Edwards vs. Covington | ESPN App, @ESPNMMA YouTube |
| 8 p.m. | UFC: Camino al Octágono | ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ | |
| Fri., 12/15 |
2:30 p.m. | UFC 296 Pre-Show presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Edwards vs. Covington | ESPN+ |
| 5:30 p.m. | UFC Live presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Edwards vs. Covington | ESPN2 | |
| 7 p.m. | UFC 2024 Seasonal Press Conference | ESPN App, @ESPNMMA YouTube | |
| 8 p.m. | UFC 296 Ceremonial Weigh-In: Edwards vs. Covington | ESPN App, @ESPNMMA YouTube | |
| Sat.,
12/16 |
6:30 p.m. | UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington (Early Prelims) | ESPN+, SiriusXM Fight Nation 156, ESPN2**, ESPN Deportes** |
| 8 p.m. | UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington Prelims presented by Modelo | ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, SiriusXM Fight Nation 156 | |
| 10 p.m. | UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington (Main Card) | ESPN+ PPV (English & Spanish) |
|
| 1 a.m.* | UFC 296 Post Show Presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Edwards vs. Covington | ESPN+ |
*Immediately following Main Event
**ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will join Early Prelims coverage at 7:30 p.m.
Main Card and Prelims (All times ET)
| 10 p.m. | Main | Leon Edwards (C) vs. Colby Covington | UFC Welterweight Championship |
| Co-Main | Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Brandon Royval | UFC Flyweight Championship | |
| Undercard | Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson | ||
| Undercard | Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett | ||
| Undercard | Josh Emmett vs. Bryce Mitchell | ||
| 8 p.m. | Feature | Alonzo Menifield vs. Dustin Jacoby | |
| Undercard | Irene Aldana vs. Karol Rosa | ||
| Undercard | Cody Garbrandt vs. Brian Kelleher | ||
| Undercard | Casey O’Neill vs. Ariane Lipski | ||
| 6:30 p.m. | Feature | Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Cody Durden | |
| Undercard | Andre Fili vs. Lucas Almeida | ||
| Undercard | Martin Buday vs. Shamil Gaziev |
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MEDIA CONTACTS
ESPN
Ardi Dwornik: ardi.r.dwornik@espn.com | Michael Skarka: michael.skarka@espn.com
