UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateDecember 16, 2023
VenueT-Mobile Arena
CityParadise, Nevada, United States
Attendance19,039[1]
Gate$9,300,000[1]
PreviouseventUFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutiérrez
FollowingeventUFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2

UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 16, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]

Background

A UFC Welterweight Championship bout between current champion Leon Edwards and former interim champion Colby Covington headlined the event.[3] Belal Muhammad served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.[4]

A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Alexandre Pantoja and former LFA Flyweight Champion Brandon Royval took place at the event.[3] The pair previously met at UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum in August 2021 which Pantoja won by second-round submission.[5] Former two-time champion Brandon Moreno served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.[6]

A featherweight bout between former interim UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Josh Emmett and Giga Chikadze was expected to take place at this event.[7] However, Chikadze withdrew due to a torn groin and was replaced by Bryce Mitchell.[8][9]

A welterweight bout between Ian Machado Garry and Vicente Luque was expected to take place at the event.[10] However, the bout was scrapped after Garry withdrew due to contracting pneumonia the week of the event.[11]

A welterweight bout between Randy Brown and Muslim Salikhov was expected to take place at the event but was scrapped after Brown withdrew due to illness.[12]

Strickland-du Plessis brawl

UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and challenger Dricus du Plessis were in attendance at the event, seated within two rows of each-other by Dana White's arrangement.[13] While exchanging words, Strickland gestured for audience members to move and attacked du Plessis. The brawl was quickly broken up and Strickland was escorted out of the event.[14][15] Despite the altercation, du Plessis pressed no charges.[16]

Results

[17]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[18]

  • Fight of the Night: Irene Aldana vs. Karol Rosa
  • Performance of the Night: Josh Emmett, Ariane Lipski, and Shamil Gaziev

See also

References

  1. ^ Bohn, Mike (December 17, 2023). "UFC 296 post-event facts: Colby Covington joins rare company with 0-3 title fight record". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived December 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Richardson, Andrew (June 2, 2023). "Midnight Mania! UFC requests licenses for four more events in the UFC Apex". mmamania.com. Archived June 28, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Bohn, Mike (September 20, 2023). "Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington booked for UFC 296; Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval 2 also added". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived September 21, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  4. ^ Bohn, Mike & Hannoun, Farah (December 10, 2023). "Belal Muhammad confirms role as UFC 296 backup fighter for Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived December 10, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Anderson, Jay (August 21, 2021). "UFC Vegas 34 results: Alexandre Pantoja subs game Brandon Royval". cagesidepress.com. Archived August 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Bohn, Mike (December 6, 2023). "Brandon Moreno set as UFC 296 backup fighter for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived December 7, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Bohn, Mike (October 18, 2023). "Giga Chikadze vs. Josh Emmett added to loaded UFC 296 lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived October 29, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Samano, Simon & Hannoun, Farah (December 4, 2023). "Giga Chikadze injured, out of UFC 296 fight vs. Josh Emmett". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived December 5, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  9. ^ King, Nolan (December 6, 2023). "Bryce Mitchell steps into UFC 296 vs. Josh Emmett on short notice". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived December 7, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Vicente Luque vs Ian Machado Garry Announced for UFC 296 PPV". itnwwe.com. September 24, 2023. Archived December 14, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Martin, Damon (December 13, 2023). "Ian Machado Garry vs. Vicente Luque scrapped from UFC 296". mmafighting.com. Archived December 14, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Segura, Danny (December 14, 2023). "UFC 296 loses second fight in less than 24 hours after scratched prelim". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived December 15, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  13. ^ Martin, Damon (December 17, 2023). "Dana White blames himself for Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis brawl at UFC 296: 'This assh***' sat them next to each other'". MMA Fighting. Archived December 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Toronto main event fighters Strickland, du Plessis fight in crowd at UFC 296". Sportsnet.ca. December 16, 2023. Archived December 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Mackenzie, Alasdair (December 17, 2023). "UFC 296: Sean Strickland attacks Dricus du Plessis in the middle of shocked Vegas crowd - 'Out of his mind'". eurosport.com. Archived December 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  16. ^ King, Nolan & Bohn, Mike (January 11, 2024). "Dricus du Plessis never considered pressing charges against Sean Strickland: 'I would even take the blame'". MMA Junkie. Archived January 18, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington". UFC. 20 September 2023. Archived October 12, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Taylor, Chris (December 16, 2023). "UFC 296 Bonus Report: Irene Aldana and Karol Rosa earn 'FOTN' honors". bjpenn.com. Archived December 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 16, 2023.