LAS VEGAS – The UFC 296 pre-fight news conference was quite the spectacle Thursday at MGM Grand Garden Arena, as it featured eight of the 10 main card combatants.
In Saturday’s main event at T-Mobile Arena, the welterweight title is on the line as champion Leon Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) looks to defend gold vs. Colby Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC). A second title fight between flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Brandon Royval (15-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is on tap for the co-main event.
Also on the main card, welterweight contenders Shavkat Rakhmonov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Stephen Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) collide in a matchup years in the making. Additionally, fan favorite Tony Ferguson (25-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC) aims to snap a lengthy skid against rising star Paddy Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC).