UFC 296 as it happened - Leon Edwards beats Colby Covington to defend title in Las Vegas, Paddy Pimblett wins
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ByEurosport
Updated 17/12/2023 at 06:54 GMT
Welcome to TNT Sports' live text coverage of UFC 296, which sees English star Leon Edwards put his welterweight championship on the line against Colby Covington. The co-main event is a flyweight battle as Alexandre Pantoja faces Brandon Royval in a rematch of their 2021 bout. Elsewhere, Paddy Pimblett is back in action as he goes up against Tony Ferguson.
Leon Edwards of Jamaica punches Colby Covington in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 296 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Image credit: Getty Images
How to watch Edwards v Covington in the UK on TV
UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched through EE TV, Virgin Media TV and Sky, online via the web or the TNT Sports Box Office App. You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy this event.
The broadcast of the preliminary card will be available for TNT Sports subscribers to watch on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 01:00. The main card will start from 03:00 and will be available exclusively on TNT Sports Box Office.
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THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THE ACTION WITH US
Watch the fight again to see Leon Edwards show himself a class above Colby Covington in, as well as out of, the Octagon, as well as the rest of the stellar main card on TNT Sports Box Office - the place to catch all the UFC action in 2024.
FERGUSON SHOULDN'T RETIRE - PADDY EXCLUSIVE ON TNT SPORTS
'IT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ME' - EDWARDS
"This fight was very emotional for me," Edwards said on TNT Sports. "He used my dad's death for entertainment.
"After the press conference I was crying ... He's a good competitor but he's a dirty human being."
EDWARDS RETAINS TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION
All three judges score the fight in the Englishman's favour 49-46. Covington acts disgusted but he is fooling no one.
EDWARDS-COVINGTON: ROUND 5
"We have to make a difference or we're not going to win the belt," is the sage advice in the Covington corner.
Covington gets a takedown, though Edwards stops the American getting a hook in and he then puts the American on the floor seemingly showing he can beat him at his own game. It didn't seem wise as Covington locked in a triangle briefly but Edwards got out of it. The fight ended with Covington on top and Edwards taking no risks to stop any chance of a submission.
EDWARDS-COVINGTON: ROUND 4
When the pair clinch, Edwards goes for a choke and Covington spins to escape it. After that it was as you were with Edwards controlling the fight with jabs and kicks. Covington attempted a take down in the second half of the round, but after a grapple against the Octagon Edwards escaped. Covington had some success with southpaw jabs in the second hald of the fight and he leveraged it into a takedown. A better round for Covington but not enough to win it.
EDWARDS-COVINGTON: ROUND 3
Covington's fans have reason to cheer as he takes Edwards down but the Englishman gets out and responds with a head kick before taking the American down himself. Edwards keeps landing with kicks to Covington's right leg and momentarily the American turns to orthodox but has no confidence in that stance so reverts back and the pattern continues.
EDWARDS-COVINGTON: ROUND 2
"Same again," Edwards' corner say and he does exactly that. A master-class controlling the action. Covington's lead right thigh is heavily bruised and Edwards also landed in straight strikes receiving little back in return. An easy round for Edwards and the American fans are starting to turn on their hero.
EDWARDS-COVINGTON: ROUND 1
Edwards with a measured start controlling the Octagon with leg kicks and bloodying Covington's nose with right hands. An unusually slow start from Covington who could not find an opening in the Englishman's defence and a southpaw left hand saw a cut opened on the American's cheek.
0544 - WE ARE UNDERWAY...
No touching of gloves after Covington's pre-fight words.
0541 - "IT'S TIME"
Bruce Buffer gets the viewers in the arena and on TNT Sports Box Office pumped for this event.
0538 - EDWARDS ENTERS THE OCTAGON
Dexta Daps' Shabba Madda Pot played him to the centre of the arena.
0533 - COVINGTON WALKS TO THE OCTAGON
He is draped in the Stars and Stripes with Kurt Angle's WWE theme tune ringing out. He gets some words of encouragement from Donald Trump before he enters the Octagon.
0530 - MCCANN INSPIRED BY EDWARDS AND PADDY
0525 - JUST ONE FIGHT TO GO...
The last UFC fight of 2023, live here on TNT Sports Box Office, as Birmingham's Leon Edwards (21-3) takes on American Colby 'Chaos' Covington (17-3).
PANTOJA RETAINS TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION
Pantoja won by scores of 50-45 (twice) and 49-46.
PANTOJA-ROYVAL: ROUND 5
Royval started well, repeatedly landing jabs and hurting a weary Pantoja with uppercuts. The champion brought his opponent down moments inside the second half of the round and kept him there to deny the challenger the chance of the knockout he required.
PANTOJA-ROYVAL: ROUND 4
The champ took his opponent down and locked a body triangle in and Royval was only able to escape it in the final thirty seconds when he landed some shots on the champion on the ground. Too late to win the round but maybe momentum to take into the last round.
PANTOJA-ROYVAL: ROUND 3
A better round for Royval, winning a number of exchanges when the pair were standing up, landing slick southpaw jabs and as the champion looked fatigued. 'The Cannibal' still secured control on the floor at the end of the round.
GSP ON EDWARDS-COVINGTON
The greatest ever welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre, gave his thoughts on the title fight. There is still time to get the fight on TNT Sports Box Office.
PANTOJA-ROYVAL: ROUND 2
Pantoja again had control on the ground for over half the round, then as Royval got up he was caught with a quick one-two which had the challenger's legs doing a chicken dance.
PANTOJA-ROYVAL: ROUND 1
Pantoja attacks from the first second, but Royval avoids the takedown. Pantoja lands two kicks to the body and gets a takedown two minutes into the round. Royval showed great defence with chopping kicks on his back to stop Pantoja locking in a finishing hold. Royval got up with thirty seconds remaining.
0445 - EMMETT SPEAKS TO TNT SPORTS ABOUT REMARKABLE KO
He produced the knockout of the night with his first round stoppage of Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett spoke to our own Caroline Pearce about it.
0440 - THE CO-MAIN EVENT UP NEXT
A rematch between Brandon Royval and flyweight champion 'The Cannibal' Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil, who made the American tap two years ago in the second round.
0435 - OUR MAIN EVENT FIGHTERS ARE NEARLY READY
The only way you can watch this eagerly-awaited fight is on TNT Sports Box Office.
RAKHMONOV WINS BY SUBMISSION IN ROUND 2
Rakhmonov lands a knee to the body and forces the veteran against the Octagon, eventually bringing him to the ground and putting on a choke hold which threatens to end the fight. Just as it looked like 'Wonder Boy' would see out to the third round, the Kazakh fighter takes the back and makes him tap with a rear-naked choke with just a few seconds remaining. Rakhmonov's record improves to 18-0.
RAKHMONOV-THOMPSON: ROUND 1
Rakhmonov tied Thompson against the cage for much of the round, but 'Wonder Boy' landed some good kicks to the body and right southpaw jabs in the closing stages.
0415 - UP NEXT ... A TOP-SIX WELTERWEIGHT BATTLE
Kazakhstan's Shavkat Rakhmanov (#5) takes on Stephen Thompson (#6). Unbeaten Rakhmanov, a big betting favourite, comes into the ring in traditional headwear, but Thompson still looks in peak fighting shape at 40 years of age.
0410 - WE ARE AROUND AN HOUR FROM THE MAIN EVENT
The only place to watch Birmingham's Leon Edwards defend his welterweight title against Colby Covington with us is on TNT Sports Box Office.
0405 - PADDY THE BADDY ON HIS VICTORY OVER FERGUSON
0400 - A REMINDER OF THE GREAT KO FROM 'NO LOVE' IN THE PRELIMS
PIMBLETT WINS UNANIMOUS DECISION
The UK fighter wins 30-27 on all three rounds.
PIMBLETT-FERGUSON: ROUND 3
Pimblett looked fatigued and Ferguson had the better of the early stages but 'The Baddy' managed to get Ferguson on the floor and the veteran could not get the Englishman off him.
PIMBLETT-FERGUSON: ROUND 2
The second round was mainly fought on the ground after Pimblett brought him to the ground. Then Pimblett land right hands and had control but Ferguson showed good defence and landed big elbows to the head of Pimblett leading to blood raining down.
EDWARDS-COVINGTON ONLY ON TNT SPORTS BOX OFFICE
This mother of all grudge matches can only be watched on TNT Sports Box Office.
PIMBLETT-FERGUSON: ROUND 1
Ferguson puts Pimblett down with a flash knockdown with a calf kick, but Pimblett wobbled the veteran with right hands and then with a minute remaining after a vicious combination finished with a high knee it seemed the end was nigh. With Ferguson on the floor, Pimblett kept pummeling the former interim champion but somehow the American made it to the end of the round.
0330 - PADDY THE BADDY UP NEXT
Liverpool's Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett takes on American veteran Tony Ferguson.
EMMETT KNOCKS OUT MITCHELL IN ROUND 1
After a couple of minutes of feeling each other out, Mitchell was hit with a massive right hand which ended the fight immediately. Mitchell had convulsions on the floor after being hit but is conscious now, if on unsteady legs.
0318 - EDWARDS READY TO GO...
I think it's fair to say all the UK are behind the welterweight champion.
0315 - TRUMP IN PLACE TO SUPPORT COVINGTON
0310 - FIRST UP... TWO TOP TEN FEATHERWEIGHTS
#6 Josh Emmett takes on #10 Bryce Mitchell.
0305 - THE MAIN CARD IS UPON US...
If the prelims are anything to go by we are in for a sensational two-and-a-half hours or so. The only way you can watch this is on TNT Sports Box Office.
0300 - COVINGTON IS IN THE HOUSE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRELIMS...
Irene Aldana beat Karol Rosa in a fight of the year contender.
'No Love' Cody Garbrandt ended his bout with Brian Kelleher in stunning style.
'The Queen of Violence' Ariane Lipski made Casey O'Neill tap with an arm bar.
MENIFIELD WINS UNANIMOUS DECISION
All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favour of the #14-ranked light heavyweight, 'Atomic' Alonzo Menifield.
MENIFIELD-JACOBY: ROUND 3
Jacoby looked a little fresher and landed multiple jabs closing Menifield's eye, but also ate a couple of left hooks from Menifield though they didn't have the effect they did in the previous round. But then from nowhere Menifield landed a huge left hand worthy of 'Smokin' Joe Frazier and took down Jacoby. One punch can change a fight and that one maybe did that. From being Jacoby's round, that big moment is likely to tilt it to Menifield.
MENIFIELD-JACOBY: ROUND 2
Much better round for Menifield. He lands a big left hand which rocks Jacoby and puts his opponent down for a flash knockdown with a leg kick. Jacoby then hurt Menifield with a right hand, but Menifield landed a counter left hook which had Jacoby hurt. Jacoby got back some control with his jab in the last minute but Menifield's round.
MENIFIELD-JACOBY: ROUND 1
Jacoby wins the round, easily the least eventful of this fantastic preliminary card. His feints are bamboozling Menifield who can't get into range. The round ended with Jacoby landing body shots and knees against the cage. Menifield still looks dangerous if he can land combinations.
0235: PADDY THE BADDY UNVEILS NEW LOOK
THE FEATURE PRELIM IS NEXT
Alonzo Menifield (14-3-1), ranked 14 in the light-heavyweights, meets #15 Dustin Jacoby (19-7-1) in an all-American match-up. There have been 22 first-round stoppage wins between these two fighters so we expect fireworks.
ALDANA WINS DECISION
All three judges had the fight 29-28 in favour of the Mexican.
ALDANA-ROSA: ROUND 3
Aldana comes out and lands a huge right hand which spins Rosa around, but the Brazilian recovers and goes back to her leg kicks and combined them with left hooks to make them even more effective. Rosa complained about a body shot inbetween rounds and another left hook downstairs hurt Rosa and turned the bout in her favour. Rosa kept firing back with leg kicks and left hands but Aldana's shots were more effective. Both end the fight with crimson masks and roars from the crowd. If there's a better fight than this tonight, we'll be very surprised. A deserved standing ovation for both these warriors.
ALDANA-ROSA: ROUND 2
Aldana battled through to likely take the second round. Despite Rosa still landing with leg kicks and also some counter shots, Aldana walked through to land right hands, uppercuts as well as her signature left hook. Anyone's fight going into the third round.
ALDANA-ROSA: ROUND 1
Rosa getting the better of Aldana with leg kicks against the front leg of the Mexican vulnerable due to her boxing stance. An inside kick buckled Aldana twice in the fourth minute. Aladana continued to land strikes and bloodied Rosa's nose, though she also had hers seeping claret after a head kick on the buzzer.
0150: TOP 10 BANTAMWEIGHTS MEET NEXT
#5 Irene Aldana of Mexico (14-7) takes on #9 Brazilian Karol Rosa (17-5).
GARBRANDT CALLS OUT FORMER FLYWEIGHT KING FIGUEIREDO
GARBRANDT WINS BY ROUND 1 KO
Garbrandt lands good punches early but Kelleher's effective leg kicks kept him in the contest early on. Right hands from the former champion had Kelleher unsteady and then when his opponent attempted a kick, another right hand down the pipe from 'No Love' saw Kelleher fall face first to the mat and the fight was called off.
0130: GARBRANDT-KELLEHER UP NEXT
Both these bantamweights specialise in early nights. Former champion Cody Garbrandt has 10 knockout wins in his 13-3 record and Brian Kelleher 10 wins in the first round. Don't blink in this one.
LIPSKI WINS BY ROUND 2 SUBMISSION
A nasty right hand cross rocked O'Neill badly and Casey did well to avoid a stoppage after some prolonged ground and pound, before an arm bar made the Australian tap.
O'NEILL-LIPSKI: ROUND 1
A clear round for the underdog Lipski. Landing more frequent and harder strikes and reversing an attempt for a takedown landing blows with O'Neill on the floor then leg and head kicks as her opponent got up.
0105 - 'KING' VS 'QUEEN OF VIOLENCE' UP FIRST
Ariane Lipski of Brazil (16-8) comes up against 12th-ranked fighter flyweight fighter 'King' Casey O'Neill (9-1) of Australia.
0055 - PRELIMINARY CARD ON TNT SPORTS 1 AND DISCOVERY+
You can watch the preliminary card starting shortly on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+. The main card will start from 03:00 and will be available exclusively on TNT Sports Box Office.
0045 - HELLO AND WELCOME
Thanks for joining our coverage of UFC 296. The preliminary contests are 15 minutes away, with the main card, headlined by Britain's own Leon Edwards defending his welterweight title against Colby Covington, beginning at around 3am.
UFC 296 - Main card
Main event: Welterweight championship bout: Leon Edwards (c) v Colby Covington
Co-main event: Flyweight championship bout: Alexandre Pantoja (c) v Brandon Royval
Welterweight bout: Shavkat Rakhmonov v Stephen Thompson
Lightweight bout: Tony Ferguson v Paddy Pimblett
Featherweight bout: Josh Emmett v Bryce Mitchell
What time does Edwards v Covington start?
The broadcast of the preliminary card will be available for TNT Sports subscribers to watch on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 01:00. The main card will start from 03:00 and will be available exclusively on TNT Sports Box Office.
How to watch Edwards v Covington in the UK on TV
UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched through EE TV, Virgin Media TV and Sky, online via the web or the TNT Sports Box Office App. You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy this event.
- Sky customers can purchase TNT Sports Box Office on channel 490 via their remote control or via https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/tnt-sports
- Customers in the Republic of Ireland can purchase TNT Sports Box Office via Sky at https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/tnt-sports - €29.99 or €34.99 (on the day)
- Virgin Media TV customers in the UK: customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View rail
- EE TV customers can go to channel 494 and pay using their remote control.
- Viewers wanting to watch the fight online should visit www.tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice and follow instructions to subscribe and watch on the web or on the TNT Sports Box Office App, customers can choose to watch on the big screen using Google Chromecast and Apple Airplay.
- EE, Three, Vodafone and O2 customers watching online or via the TNT Sports Box Office App can choose to add the payment to their mobile bill.
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