Dana White Announces Two More Fights For UFC 296

In the MMA latest updates, Dana White has confirmed another two fights that will take place on the UFC 296 card, which is set to go ahead on December 16th, 2023. 

In a card that is already stacked with talent, White’ announcement has certainly gotten people talking. The card already includes the main event featuring Leon Edwards, who will defend his welterweight title against Colby Covington. This will be Edwards’ second defense after having beaten Kamaru Usman in his last fight.

As for Covington, he will enter into the cage after not having had a bout in around two years since his win over Jorge Masvidal. Meanwhile, the co-main event includes Alexandre Pantoja defending his title against Brandon Royval in a flyweight bout. 

Dana White’s Card

“At UFC 296 on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, Leon Edwards versus Colby Covington will headline our last pay-per-view of the year with the welterweight title on the line.  The champ hasn’t lost a fight in eight years and he’s coming off wins over the greatest welterweight of all time, Kamaru Usman.  He is defending his title against Colby Covington, a relentless pressure fighter with unstoppable cardio,” White  

“In the co-main event for UFC 296, UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja faces No. 4 Brandon Royval.  Pantoja is an absolute savage with 18 career finishes, coming off his second win over Brandon Moreno.  He is primed for his first flyweight title defense.  Royval’s only UFC losses are against the division’s last two champs, Pantoja and Moreno.  He’s put together an impressive win streak to earn the rematch with Pantoja with the 125-pound title on the line,” White

White Announces Pimblett-Ferguson

And now that card has been stacked up with the announcement that Paddy Pimblett will face Tony Ferguson in the biggest bout of Liverpudlian’s career in a lightweight clash.

Pimblett’s last fight was against Jared Gordon at UFC 282 as he won via a contentious decision. In the aftermath, Pimblett had surgery with question marks over whether he would fight in 2023. Pimblett’s record stands at 4-0 in the UFC.

In contrast, Ferguson is clearly entering into the latter parts of his career. The former has lost his last six fights, the latest of which was a third-round-submission loss to Bobby Green.

This was after he had been beaten by Nate Diaz at UFC 279. As such, there will be suggestions that Ferguson should retire if he were to lose once again. 

White Announces Thompson-Rakhmonov

In addition, the card will also include a welterweight fight between Stephen Thompson and Shavkat Rakhmonov. Thompson is clearly at the latter parts of his career at the age of 40, however, he did secure a significant win in his last fight against Kevin Holland after having lost his last two fights.

Meanwhile, Rakhmonov is undefeated in the UFC with 17 wins on the bounce. And what was more impressive has been the fact that he has stopped all of his opponents. So moving forward, there is plenty to keep fans entertained.