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 05:17 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Round 5

Final round. Royval surely needs a finish. He lands a few decent punches in quick succession. Good right hook. And another. Pantoja looks tired and a little perturbed.

Left cross for Royval. Great uppercut. Pantoja clinches and drags Royval to the mat, but Royval separates with a right hand.

Stinging jabs by Royval from southpaw. He’s landing almost at will now. Pantoja falls into a takedown against the cage, but Royval is defending well.

Until Pantoja changes the angle brilliantly. He’s able to stifle Royval, and this should see him over the line.

[17 December 2023 05:10 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Round 4

That was a closer round, but it could be 3-0 to Pantoja anyway. He lands a takedown very early in this fourth round.

He and Royval are grappling by the fence, in front of Donald Trump. Pantoja passes into half-guard with ease.

Royval scrambles, but Pantoja spins with him and takes his back with such efficiency! He’s got a body triangle and is working on a rear naked choke...

Pantoja nearly has it, but Royval is able to survive for now... and escape! Brilliant work from the challenger.

[17 December 2023 05:05 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Round 3

Royval has a lot of work to do. He tries a single-leg takedown, but to no avail. Then Pantoja times a double-leg and gets the American to the mat.

Royval does well to sweep the champion, and the pair soon stand. Pantoja is looking a little tired at the moment. He slows down for a while before trying another takedown. No luck.

Good one-two for Royval. A scrappy exchange ensues, with knees in close. Royval times one very well, and Pantoja resorts to another double-leg, which he secures.

[17 December 2023 04:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Round 2

Right hand and left knee by Royval, but Pantoja half-catches the knee and looks for a takedown.

No luck, and the flyweights get back to striking in the centre of the ring. That is, until Pantoja lands a neat trip.

Pantoja slides into half-guard, where he controls his challenger. Some boos from the restless fans in Las Vegas.

Referee Marc Goddard warns the fighters to work, and both land good punches. Eventually there’s a scramble, and the fight is standing again.

Pantoja with a crisp right hand. Royval tries a head kick but with no set-up, and Pantoja takes him down again.

[17 December 2023 04:51 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Round 1

Pantoja gets after Royval with a running overhand immediately. Now a body kick. He then tries a takedown against the fence. An electric pace from the champion early on.

Royval does well to stay composed. He’s standing southpaw and flicking out jabs. Again Royval prevents a takedown.

Brutal body kick by Pantoja; Royval winces. He tries a head kick, but Pantoja evades with ease then kicks low.

Nice knee in the clinch by Pantoja, who then drops down and lands a great takedown. He’s straight into half-guard.

Decent upkick by Royval, who then tries for a triangle choke as Pantoja looks to enter his guard. Royval with a scramble, but he ends up mounted!

Another scramble, and Royval is able to stand late in the round.

[17 December 2023 04:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Here we go! Co-main event under way.

[17 December 2023 04:40 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, who challenges the American for the title in January, reportedly came to blows at ringside moments ago.

Du Plessis had some harsh words for Strickland at a press conference this week, with some feeling that the South African crossed a line by mentioning the champion’s difficult upbringing.

Update: No ‘reportedly’ about it. There is footage of Strickland jumping at Du Plessis and raining down elbows...

[17 December 2023 04:36 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Next up, the co-main event. Alexandre Pantoja makes his first defence of the flyweight title, in a rematch with Brandon Royval.

Pantoja won the belt with a decision victory in a war with Brandon Moreno in July, and the Brazilian previously submitted Royval in 2021.

Since then, however, American Royval has won three fights in a row.

Alexandre Pantoja (centre-left) defends his title against old foe Brandon Royval (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

[17 December 2023 04:31 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Stephen 'Wonderboy’ Thompson

Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 4:56).

[17 December 2023 04:26 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 296 LIVE: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Stephen 'Wonderboy’ Thompson

Round 2

Well-timed, short right hook by Thompson, then a side kick to the body.

Rakhmonov shoots for a takedown, and Thompson slithers away but eats a knee to the body as the Kazakh gets him against the fence. More solid takedown defence from “Wonderboy”. His balance is so impressive.

Eventually, though, Rakhmonov finishes a single-leg takedown.

Rakhmonov is controlling Thompson, pinning his hand behind his back and landing punches to the head and body.

Rakhmonov eventually flattens out the American and locks in a rear naked choke! It looks like it’s over, but SOMEHOW Thompson guts it out!

Rakhmonov lets go but is in side control, landing elbows. He’s looking for a D’Arce... but opts to take the back instead, as Thompson gives it up...

Rakhmonov locks in a rear naked choke... and Thompson taps with seconds left in the round!!