The UFC has added a couple of marquee fights to its ultimate pay-per-view tournament of 2023.

English light-weight Paddy Pimblett (20-3) will assemble his first look of the past reverse former intervening time champion and fan favourite Tony Ferguson (25-9). Moreover, manage 10 welterweights Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (17-6-1) and Shavkat Rakhmonov (17-0) have affirmative to sq. off.

UFC president Dana White introduced the bouts Friday night time. They’ll snatch park at UFC 296 on Dec. 16 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.

Pimblett, 28, is 4-0 within the UFC, despite the fact that many witnesses felt he will have to have misplaced his most up-to-date clash in opposition to Jared Gordon ultimate December. Combating out of Liverpool, Pimblett has been out all past because of an ankle shock he suffered all through that clash.

Pimblett can have a large alternative in opposition to Ferguson, who is considered one of the most very best lightweights of the ultimate decade in spite of a six-fight skid. In 2020, Ferguson used to be scheduled to problem Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed light-weight championship. The clash used to be canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Ferguson went directly to lose to Justin Gaethje. He hasn’t recovered since.

Thompson is knocking at the door of a name shot following a victory over Kevin Holland previous this past. He’s lately ranked Negative. 7 within the category, and is 3-2 in his year 5.

Rakhmonov has lengthy been regarded as a cloudy horse within the category. The Uzbekistani is 5-0 within the UFC with 5 finishes. He has in fact recorded finishes in all 17 of his skilled bouts and is ranked Negative. 6 within the UFC.

A welterweight name clash between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington is scheduled to headline the UFC 296 tournament.