For the first time in more than a year, Colby Covington returns to action for another shot at gold. He faces Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 296 on December 16. The fight and card in Las Vegas airs on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S.
Edwards has been one of the top active fighters in the UFC, holding a twelve-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2016. “Rocky” took Rafael dos Anjos to the limit in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted his momentum. While he fought Belal Muhammad to a no-contest, Edwards beat Nate Diaz before landing a dramatic kick that knocked out Kamaru Usman. Winning the UFC welterweight title in the process, Edwards successfully defended it against Usman just seven months later.
Covington has been the exact opposite of Edwards. He is 2-2 in his last fought fights, the losses against Usman in title bouts. "Chaos" last fought in Match 2022, and the American is now 35, far from his prime when he dismantled dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, and Tyron Woodley.
Knowing this, Edwards believes there are severe holes in Covington’s game.
WATCH: UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, exclusively on ESPN+
“Everyone talks about his cardio, but he’s not the same guy that beat Robbie Lawler,” Edwards said to Sports Illustrated. “I’ve heard a lot about that guy, but that was four years ago. What about his skills? His skills are very limited. He’s very scrappy, but there are a lot of loopholes in his skills… I’m going up against someone I don’t like, so that adds motivation. It’s going to be a fantastic night, and I can’t wait.”
Do you want to buy UFC 296? Here's all you need to know to watch the event, including the price.
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.
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| 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.
When is UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington?
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 |
WATCH: UFC 296: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, exclusively on ESPN+
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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