Mixed Martial Arts Weekend Watch & Bet

The UFC is closing out 2023 with a bang.

This Saturday's UFC 296 card in Las Vegas marks the promotion's last of the year, and it's suitably stacked for the occasion.

The show will be headlined by a welterweight title fight, with champion Leon Edwards in his second title defense against trash-talking challenger Colby Covington.

There will also be a title up for grabs in the co-main event, with new flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja looking for his first title defense against proven finisher Brandon Royval.

The middle bout of the main card will see undefeated Kazakh welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov look to take a final leap into title contention against two-time title challenger Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, who is one of the best welterweights of this generation.

Before that, Paddy Pimblett will look for the biggest win of his career at the expense of fading legend Tony Ferguson, who is facing a record-tying seventh straight loss in the Octagon.