UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington fight updates and results tonight

Re-live the action after Britain’s Edwards defended the welterweight title against the controversial American

Leon Edwards reveals Colby Covington's father joke made him 'cry with rage'

Leon Edwards retained the UFC welterweight title with a clinical performance against Colby Covington on Saturday, easing to a points win in Las Vegas.

The Jamaican-born Britan showed off his superiority in the striking exchanges and even out-grappled the wrestling specialist for periods of the fight, which headlined UFC 296 at the T-Mobile Arena.

The controversial Covington, 35, is famed for his offensive wrestling and relentless pressure, but he was surprisingly inactive against Edwards, 32. The champion was able to pick off the American at range, while denying the majority of Covington’s sporadic takedown attempts.

In one of Edwards’s most impressive moments, he stuffed a takedown before nailing Covington with a head kick, before proceeding to take down his challenger – as if to make a point.

Covington, who had ex-US president Donald Trump supporting him from ringside, was able to employ his grappling more effectively in the fifth and final round, ending the fight on top. However, it was too little and too late for the American, who was beaten 49-46 on all three scorecards.

Re-live updates and results from the prelims, main card and main event of UFC 296, below.

UFC 296 LIVE

• Leon Edwards picks apart Colby Covington to retain welterweight title
• Alexandre Pantoja retains flyweight title vs Brandon Royval in co-main event
• Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett dominates lightweight legend Tony Ferguson
• Shavkat Rakhmonov submits Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson
• Josh Emmett crumples Bryce Mitchell with hellacious KO
• Donald Trump arrives at UFC 296 to support friend Covington

[17 December 2023 00:35 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards reacts as Colby Covington insults his late father

Let’s turn our attention to the main event.

Tensions between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington rose on Thursday, when the controversial American insulted Edwards’s late father at the pre-fight press conference.

Here’s what Covington said and how Edwards reacted:

[17 December 2023 00:21 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Ian Machado Garry vs Vicente Luque cancelled

One great fight that is missing from the card? Ian Machado Garry vs Vicente Luque.

That highly-anticipated bout was called off this week after Machado Garry contracted pneumonia.

More on that here:

[17 December 2023 00:10 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Fight card in full (subject to late changes)

Main card

Leon Edwards (C) vs Colby Covington (welterweight title)

Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs Brandon Royval 2 (flyweight title)

Shavkat Rahkmonov vs Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (welterweight)

Tony Ferguson vs Paddy Pimblett (lightweight)

Josh Emmett vs Bryce Mitchell (featherweight)

Prelims

Alonzo Menifield vs Dustin Jacoby (light-heavyweight)

Irene Aldana vs Karol Rosa (women’s bantamweight)

Cody Garbrandt vs Brian Kelleher (bantamweight)

Casey O’Neill vs Ariane Lipski (women’s flyweight)

Early prelims

Tagir Ulanbekov vs Cody Durden (flyweight)

Andre Fili vs Lucas Almeida (featherweight)

Martin Buday vs Shamil Gaziev (heavyweight)

[16 December 2023 23:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: How to watch Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington

In the UK, the prelims will air live on TNT Sports 1 for subscribers, who can also watch those early fights on discovery+. The main card will then air live on TNT Sports Box Office, costing £19.99 and available to subscribers and non-subscribers. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider.

[16 December 2023 23:44 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington start time

The early prelims just got under way at 11.30pm GMT (4.30pm PT, 6.30pm CT, 7.30pm ET), with the regular prelims set to follow at 1am GMT on Sunday (6pm PT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET on Saturday).

The main card is then due at 3am GMT on Sunday (8pm PT, 10pm CT, 11pm ET on Saturday).

We’ll begin our round-by-round fight updates later in the prelims. Until then, we’ve got all the important UFC information, analysis and news that you need.

Stick around!

[16 December 2023 23:30 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington

Leon Edwards will defend the welterweight title against Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 296 tonight.

Edwards won the belt with a stunning knockout of Kamaru Usman in 2022, before retaining the gold against his old foe in London in March. Now the Jamaican-born Briton makes his second title defence, as he faces the controversial Covington.

The American, 35, previously held the interim title, but he twice failed to dethrone Usman – losing to the “Nigerian Nightmare” via TKO in 2019 and on points in 2021. Covington bounced back each time, however, most recently dominating Jorge Masvidal for a decision victory.

That win over his friend-turned-rival came 21 months ago, however, and Edwards will look to exploit any potential ring rust that Covington has. Edwards, 32, will also look to punish Covington, after the American insulted the champion’s late father at this week’s press conference.

In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight belt in a rematch with Brandon Royval, while other highlight bouts include Paddy Pimblett vs Tony Ferguson and Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

Leon Edwards (left) defends the welterweight title against Colby Covington (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Alexandre Pantoja (centre-left) defends the men’s flyweight title against old foe Brandon Royval (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)