Two name fights had been arrange for the UFC’s end-of-the-year pay-per-view.

Leon Edwards will safeguard his welterweight name towards Colby Covington in the primary match of UFC 296 on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White introduced Wednesday on social media. Within the co-main match, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will face Brandon Royval.

ESPN has Edwards ranked Refuse. 4 on the planet in its pound-for-pound ratings. At welterweight, Edwards is ranked Refuse. 1 and Covington is unranked because of recess.

Edwards (21-3, 1 NC) is coming off back-to-back wins over former pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman, the newest by way of majority determination at UFC 286 in March. The Jamaican-born England resident is unbeaten in 12 instantly fights. Edwards, 32, beat Usman by way of fifth-round knockout, unwell at the playing cards, at UFC 278 in August 2022 to win the belt.

Covington (17-3) has now not fought since a unanimous determination win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022. The California-born resident of Miami has simply two losses in his era 11 fights, each name fights towards Usman. Covington, 35, is a former UFC intervening time welterweight champion.

Pantoja (26-5), a 33-year-old Brazilian preventing out of Florida, has gained 4 instantly, together with a fracture determination win over Brandon Moreno to win the name at UFC 290 in July. Royval (15-6), a 31-year-old Colorado local, has gained 3 instantly.

ESPN has Pantoja ranked Refuse. 1 and Royval ranked Refuse. 8 at flyweight.