UFC 296 live results: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington

It’s the final UFC event of 2023 and also one of the biggest events of the year as the Octagon ends the year inside Las Vegas, Nevada’s T-Mobile Arena for UFC 296.

A pair of title fights headline the card with UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards defending against Colby Covington in the main event.

The rivalry between the two has gotten heated this week following some of Covington’s comments. Edwards comes in riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak, and a pair of wins over Kamaru Usman has established him as the best at 170 pounds. Covington will fight for the first time since March 2022 when he scored a win over Jorge Masvidal.

In the co-main event, UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja makes his first title defense against Brandon Royval. These two have fought before with Pantoja scoring a submission win in August 2021. Pantoja won the title from Brandon Moreno in July while Royval has won three straight since that loss to Pantoja.

The rest of the main card is filled with intriguing matchups. Undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov faces his toughest test when he takes on Stephen Thompson in welterweight action, Tony Ferguson looks to end his losing skid against Paddy Pimblett in a lightweight bout, and Josh Emmett takes on Bryce Mitchell in a featherweight bout.

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> Heavyweights- Martin Buday (13-1, 4-0 UFC) vs. Shamil Gaziev (11-0, 0-0 UFC)

Gaziev lands a right hand then another. He lads a left hook. Buday lands a jab. Gaziev with a right hand against the fence then lands a combination. They trade before clinching against the fence. Gaziev breaks away and lands a pair of right hands. They trade punches. Gaziev with some big right hands. Buday is bleeding from his nose as Gaziev continues to connect. Gaziev with a knee and some more punches. Timeout is called to check a cut on Buday under the eye. They get back to action and Buday tries a takedown but Gaziev defends and gets on top. Gaziev in control from the top and lands some right hands. Buday gives up his back and Gaziev lands as Buday gets to his knees. Buday covering up as Gaziev lands. Gaziev with a knee to the body then one to the head as they stand. 10-9 Gaziev.

Gaziev landing as they start the second. Buday lands a left hand. Gaziev lands a knee then an elbow. Gaziev landing punches and knees against the fence. Gaziev lands more and it is stopped on the feet. Impressive debut win for Gaziev.

Official Result- Shamil Gaziev def. Martin Buday by TKO (strikes) at :56 of Round 2

> Featherweights- Andre Fili (22-10 1 NC, 10-9 1 NC UFC) vs. Lucas Almeida (14-2, 1-1 UFC)

They trade kicks. Almeida lands a leg kick. Fili lands a left hand. Fili lands a body kick. Almeida lands a leg kick. They trade punches. They trade leg kicks. Fili drops Almeida with a right hand and starts pounding away from the top. Lots of punches and it is stopped! Big win for Fili!

Official Result- Andre Fili def. Lucas Almeida by TKO (punches) at 3:32 of Round 1

> Flyweights- #12 Tagir Ulanbekov (14-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. #15 Cody Durden (16-4-1, 5-2-1 UFC)

Ulanbekov lands a pair of kicks. Durden lands a right hand then a leg kick. Durden with another leg kick. Ulanbekov lands a jab and they exchange kicks. Ulanbekov lands a right hand that drops Durden. Ulanbekov locks in a guillotine choke but Durden is able to fight it off and escape and is on top. They get to their feet and Ulanbekov lands a knee to the body. Durden lands some body punches as they clinch. They trade knees. They’re trading inside the pocket. Durden lands some hard punches. Ulanbekov gets a takedown. Ulanbekov lands from the top and gets the back with the hooks in. Ulanbekov looks for a rear-naked choke and it was in but Durden gets out before the end. 10-9 Ulanbekov.

Ulanbekov lands a knee. Durden lands a jab then Ulanbekov lands one. Durden lands a right hand and they tie up, where Ulanbekov gets a takedown. Durden lands an elbow from the bottom. They are almost to the feet as Ulanbekov gets the back and looks to get the hooks in. Ulanbekov has a rear-naked choke locked in as they’re on the feet and Durden is fighting it. Ulanbekov landing from the back as he goes for another choke attempt. It’s around the chin and he’s squeezing. They fall to the mat and Durden taps. Impressive win for Ulanbekov.

Official Result- Tagir Ulanbekov def. Cody Durden by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:25 of Round 2

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> Women’s Flyweights- #12 Casey O’Neill (9-1, 4-1 UFC) vs. Ariane Lipski (16-8, 5-5 UFC)

They trade and Lipski lands a nice right hand. Lipski lands a flurry of shots in close range. They tie up and Lipski lands a pair of knees as O’Neill is looking for a takedown. Lipski defending with some knees and they break. Lipski lands a right hand. O’Neill lands a left hand. O’Neill lands a right hand. Lipski lands a combo ending with a high kick. Lipski lands a jab. Lipski with a combo and a high kick. O’Neill lands a right hand before they clinch and Lipski lands a right hand on the break. O’Neill lands a right hand. Lipski gets a takedown and they get right back up and Lipski lands a head kick as O’Neill was getting up. O’Neill lands a right hand. O’Neill lands another. O’Neill lands a leg kick. Lipski scores with a combo. 10-9 Lipski.

Lipski hurts O’Neill with a combo early and is rushing in looking to land. O’Neill goes for a takedown and they go to the mat and Lipski is landing big punches from the top. Lipski gets the back and continues to land. Lipski locks in a body triangle and is looking for a choke but loses it. She switches to an armbar and O’Neill taps! What a finish from Lipski!

Official Result- Ariane Lipski def. Casey O’Neill by submission (armbar) at 1:18 of Round 2

> Bantamweights- Cody Garbrandt (13-5, 8-5 UFC) vs. Brian Kelleher (24-14, 8-7 UFC)

Garbrandt lands a left hand. Kelleher lands a leg kick. Garbrandt lands a combo. Kelleher with another calf kick. He lands another. They trade leg kicks. They clinch against the fence. They separate and both land inside the pocket. Kelleher lands a leg kick and they tie up. Garbrandt pushes it against the fence. Garbrandt lands an elbow as they break. Garbrandt rushes in and lands a flurry. Garbrandt lands and hurts Kelleher. Garbrandt drops Kelleher with a right hand and Kelleher is face first on the mat and covering up and it is stopped. Big finish from Garbrandt!

Official Result- Cody Garbrandt def. Brian Kelleher by knockout (punch) at 3:42 of Round 1

> Women’s Bantamweights- #5 Irene Aldana (14-7, 7-5 UFC) vs. #9 Karol Rosa (17-5, 6-2 UFC)

Aldana lands a jab. Rosa lands a right hand and leg kick. Aldana lands a right hand. Rosa lands an inside leg kick. They trade punches and Rosa lands more leg kicks. Aldana lands a combo. Rosa lands a hard leg kick. She continues to land leg kicks. Rosa lands a combo as Aldana lands a jab. Rosa with more leg kicks. Rosa hurting Aldana with leg kicks but Aldana is still landing combinations. Rosa hurts Aldana with another leg kick. Aldana lands a jab. Aldana still not checking the leg kicks. Aldana lands a left hook. They trade right hands. Rosa with a high kick. 10-9 Rosa.

They trade to start the second. Rosa lands some more kicks. Rosa lands a right hand and two hard leg kicks. Rosa with another leg kick and Aldana lands a jab. Rosa lands a right hand. Aldana lands a right hand. Aldana with a quick combo. Aldana lands a combo and clips Rosa with a right hand. Aldana landing more and Rosa lands a leg kick. Aldana with two right hands and a jab. Aldana lands a right hand then a left hook. Aldana with two left hands and Rosa lands a leg kick. Aldana landing with more volume as the round goes on. Aldana with a left hand to the body then a jab. Rosa lands a combo. Rosa lands a leg kick. Aldana lands a jab then an uppercut and hurts Rosa with a right hand. 10-9 Aldana, 19-19.

They trade and Rosa lands a leg kick. Aldana lands a combo. They’re trading in close range and both land right hands. Rosa lands a leg kick then a right hand. Rosa landing more to start the round out. They trade punches and Rosa lands an inside leg kick. They trade and Aldana hurts Rosa to the body. Rosa is covering up as Aldana is landing. Aldana lands a right hand. Rosa’s face is a bloody mess under her eye. Aldana lands a right hand. They trade. Aldana landing more punches right now. Aldana lands a big left hook. Aldana lands a right hand as she’s pressuring. Rosa eating a lot of damage. Rosa lands a leg kick. Aldana lands a right hand. Aldana with a left hook. Crazy fight. Close fight. 10-9 Aldana, 29-28 Aldana.

Official Result- Irene Aldana def. Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Light Heavyweights- #14 Alonzo Menifield (14-3-1, 7-3-1 UFC) vs. #15 Dustin Jacoby (19-7-1, 7-4-1 UFC)

Menifield lands a jab. Jacoby lands a jab. Jacoby lands an inside leg kick. Menifield lands a jab. Jacoby lands a right hand. Menifield lands a left hook. Jacoby lands a body kick. He lands a left hook. Menifield looks for a takedown but Jacoby shakes him off. Jacoby lands a right hand. They clinch against the fence. Jacoby lands to the body. He continues to land left hands to the body. Jacoby lands some knees late. 10-9 Jacoby.

Menifield rocks Jacoby with a left hand and rushes in but Jacoby is able to circle away. Jacoby lands a jab. They trade leg kicks and Jacoby slips to the mat for a moment. Menifield with another leg kick. Jacoby lands a jab. Menifield lands a right hand. Jacoby hurts Menifield with some punches. Menifield hurts Jacoby. Jacoby is backing up and Menifield is swinging hard. Jacoby escapes away. Jacoby lands a jab. He lands two more. Menifield lands a leg kick. They trade left hands. They trade late. Close round. 10-9 Menifield, 19-19.

They trade jabs. Jacoby lands a combo. Menifield lands a left hook. Jacoby lands a right hand. He lands another. They trade inside the pocket. Jacoby continues to land the jab. Jacoby lands a combo. He’s landing with more volume here and is busting Menifield up. Menifield drops Jacoby with a left hook and is trying to finish as Jacoby stands. Menifield with some big punches and gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Jacoby is landing to the body against the fence. They’re both battling for underhooks as Jacoby is hanging on. Jacoby lands a knee. Menifield lands a knee. They separate and both land. Close fight. 10-9 Menifield, 29-28 Menifield.

Official Result- Alonzo Menifield def. Dustin Jacoby by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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> Featherweights- #6 Josh Emmett (18-4, 9-4 UFC) vs. #10 Bryce Mitchell (16-1, 7-1 UFC)

Emmett lands to the body. Emmett lands a left hand. Emmett lands a right hand that knocks Mitchell out cold. What a vicious right hand from Emmett to get the win.

Official Result- Josh Emmett def. Bryce Mitchell by knockout (punch) at 1:57 of Round 1

> Lightweights- Tony Ferguson (25-9, 15-7 UFC) vs. Paddy Pimblett (20-3, 4-0 UFC)

Pimblett lands early and lands a high kick. He lands a leg kick. Ferguson lands a right hand. Pimblett lands a leg kick. Pimblett lands a body kick. He lands a leg kick. Ferguson lands a counter right hand. Pimblett lands a body kick then a calf kick. They trade jabs. Pimblett lands a leg kick then a right hand as Ferguson clips him with a right hand. Pimblett lands some right hands then a body kick. Ferguson is retreating. Pimblett lands a leg kick then a combo. Pimblett hurts Ferguson with some punches then lands a knee and Ferguson goes to the mat. Pimblett landing from the top. Ferguson gives up his back and Pimblett is landing. Pimblett has the mount and is landing big punches. Ferguson survives. 10-8 Pimblett.

Pimblett lands to start the second. He lands a combo. Ferguson slips on a kick and Pimblett gets on top. Ferguson lands some elbows from the bottom. Pimblett with some big punches from the top. Pimblett still in control from the top. He lands a right hand as he tries to pass the guard of Ferguson. Ferguson was trying stuff from the bottom but Pimblett ends the round on top. 10-9 Pimblett, 20-17 Pimblett.

Pimblett lands a left hand as Ferguson lands an uppercut. Pimblett looked for a takedown and tried to pull guard but Ferguson lets him back up. Pimblett is tired. Pimblett lands a body kick and is able to get a takedown. Ferguson trying for the rubber guard from the bottom but Pimblett passes to the half-guard. Ferguson throwing elbows from the bottom as Pimblett is landing from the top. Pimblett for more shots from the top. Ferguson looks for a choke but Pimblett gets his head out. Pimblett lands from the top as the fight ends. 10-9 Pimblett, 30-26 Pimblett.

Official Result- Paddy Pimblett def. Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Welterweights- #5 Shavkat Rakhmonov (17-0, 5-0 UFC) vs. #6 Stephen Thompson (17-6-1, 12-6-1 UFC)

Thompson lands a leg kick. He lands a left hand as Rakhmonov closes the distance and initiates a clinch. They trade knees to the body as Rakhmonov continues to pressure against the fence. Rakhmonov lands some uppercuts against the fence. There isn’t much action going on. They separate. Thompson lands a body kick. He lands another. They trade punches. 10-9 Rakhmonov.

Thompson lands a side kick. Rakhmonov looks for a takedown but Thompson escapes. Rakhmonov lands a knee to the body as they clinch. Rakhmonov gets a takedown. Rakhmonov with some punches from the top. Rakhmonov is looking for a choke and has it locked in but Thompson slips out. Rakhmonov lands an elbow from the top. Rakhmonov with punches from the top. Rakhmonov gets the back again and is looking for the choke again. Thompson taps! Rakhmonov with the late finish in the second round.

Official Result- Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Stephen Thompson by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:56 of Round 2

> UFC Flyweight Championship- C Alexandre Pantoja (26-5, 10-3 UFC) vs. #2 Brandon Royval (15-6, 5-2 UFC)

Pantoja swarms early and lands a body kick then a leg kick. Pantoja tries a takedown against the fence but Royval defends and they break. Royval lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Pantoja lands a right hand and looks for a takedown. They break. They trade and Pantoja lands a body kick. They trade body kicks. Pantoja gets a takedown. Royval playing defense on the bottom and throwing upkicks. Pantoja stands and lands a right hand. Pantoja gets back into the half-guard. Pantoja spins to side control then gets the mount. They get to their feet and Royval lands a left hand. Pantoja lands a body kick. Pantoja lands a right hand. 10-9 Pantoja.

Pantoja lands a right hand. He lands a body kick. They trade knees to the body as Pantoja pushes it against the fence but they separate. Pantoja lands a right hand. Pantoja gets a takedown. Pantoja gets the half-guard. Both being active on the mat as Pantoja is looing for the mount. He ends up in side control. Both landing on the mat. Pantoja with some hammerfists from the top. They get to their feet. Pantoja lands a right hand that stuns Royval. Royval lands a head kick but Pantoja is able to get a takedown. 10-9 Pantoja, 20-18 Pantoja.

Pantoja lands a right hand and Royval grabs the leg but lets go. Pantoja gets a takedown. They quickly scramble to their feet. Royval lands a combo. Pantoja with a body kick. Royval lands a pair of stiff jabs. Royval looks for a takedown but Pantoja defends. Pantoja lands a pair of kicks. They trade punches. Royval lands a body kick. Royval with a combo then some jabs. Royval lands a knee up the middle. Pantoja is able to get a takedown. 10-9 Royval, 29-28 Pantoja.

Pantoja gets a takedown. Pantoja looking to transition as he spins to the back and looks for a choke. Pantoja has the body triangle locked in and is working hard for the choke. Royval is unable to spin out. Pantoja has it around the chin and is squeezing. Royval fights out of it. Royval is able to escape and gets on top and starts landing punches. Pantoja looks for a leg lock. 10-9 Pantoja, 39-37 Pantoja.

They trade punches to start the fifth. Royval lands a nice right hand. Pantoja lands a pair of leg kicks. Royval lands an uppercut. They clinch and Royval lands some punches before they separate. Royval lands a stiff jab. Royval landing with lots of volume. Royval lands and Pantoja is able to get a takedown. They get to their feet but Pantoja is looking to take it back down and he does. Pantoja lands some left hands from the top. Pantoja rides it out from the top and lands some late hammerfists. 10-9 Pantoja, 49-46 Pantoja.

Official Result- Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Royval by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to retain the UFC Flyweight Championship

> UFC Welterweight Championship- C Leon Edwards (21-3 1 NC, 13-2 1 NC UFC) vs. #3 Colby Covington (17-3, 12-3 UFC)

They trade kicks but both got blocked. Edwards lands a leg kick. They trade punches. Edwards lands a left hand then a right hand. Edwards with an inside leg kick. Edwards lands a left hand. Edwards lands some kicks. Covington lands a body kick. Edwards lands a left hand. Not a ton happened. 10-9 Edwards.

They trade kicks. Edwards lands a body kick. Edwards lands a right hook then a leg kick. Edwards lands a leg kick. Edwards lands a head kick. Edwards lands a right hand. Edwards with a calf kick. Edwards lands a left hand. Covington is not doing much. Edwards lands a body kick. 10-9 Edwards, 20-18 Edwards.

Edwards lands a leg kick. He lands another. Edwards lands a hard leg kick. Covington shoots for a takedown and Edwards defends. Edwards steps over and it allows Covington to get it down. They get up and Edwards lands a big head kick. Edwards shoots for a takedown and gets it. They get to their feet. Edwards lands a jab then lands to the body. They trade leg kicks and Edwards lands a hard one. Edwards lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. 10-9 Edwards, 30-27 Edwards.

Edwards lands some kicks early. Covington looks for a takedown and Edwards has a choke locked in, but Covington spins to escape. Edwards lands a big left hand. Edwards lands a body kick. They briefly go to the mat but stand. Edwards lands a knee to the body and the foot caught the cup and we have a brief timeout. Covington lands a left hand. He lands another. Covington lands and goes for a takedown. They scramble to the mat and Covington has the back. Edwards slides out and lands a knee to the body then they stand and separate. Edwards lands a leg kick. Edwards lands a body kick. 10-9 Edwards, 40-36 Edwards.

Edwards lands a high kick. Edwards lands a right hand. Covington is able to get a takedown. Edwards gets to his feet and he takes Covington down. Edwards gets the back. Edwards looks for a choke then looks for an armbar but Covington is able to end up on top. Covington with some body shots from the half-guard. Covington ends the round on top but this should be a win for the champion. 10-9 Covington, 49-46 Edwards.

Official Result- Leon Edwards def. Colby Covington by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship