Dana White has announced three title fights will be added to the upcoming UFC 295 and 296 events later this year. White has finally found his main event for UFC 296 at the T-Mobile Arena and has also finalised an immense co-main event for UFC 295 at Maddison Square Garden.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval for the UFC flyweight title
White has delivered the news that Alexandre Pantoja will make his first flyweight title defence against Brandon Royval at UFC 296.
Pantoja is coming off the back of a convincing win over former champion Brandon Moreno and is now tasked with fending off the challenge of Royval- who has enjoyed a three-fight win streak having recovered from back-to-back losses to Moreno and Pantoja two years ago.
Royval is looking to avenge the loss to Pantojoa back in 2021 and is looking to taste UFC gold for the first time in his career at the age of 31.
Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington for the UFC welterweight title
In addition to that, Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Colby Covington in the UFC 296 main event at the T-Mobile Arena. Edwards is still relishing off two victories over arguably the greatest welterweight champion of all time Kamaru Usman and is hoping to create a dynasty of his own with a third title successful title defence.
Covington on the other hand hasn’t fought since March 2022, when he defeated Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272. In the days following the fight, Covington was allegedly attacked by Masvidal at a steakhouse in Miami Beach and the ordeal is still said to be unresolved.
There was also a reluctance for Edwards to fight Covington as he felt the former interim champion was not worthy of a title shot given his inactivity inside the Octagon. Covington and fans have suggested that his relentless pressure and boundless cardio makes him a bad matchup for Edwards. Edwards then refused to sign a contract with Covington but White has stood firm and a deal has been finalised.
Fans have once again been blessed with a plethora of mammoth matchups, and White had more news regarding the co-main event at UFC 295- which headlines heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
A decision on the co-main event was eagerly awaited by UFC fanatics and White has found his bout.
Jiří Procházka vs Alex Pereira for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title
Former light heavyweight champion and the undefeated Jiří Procházka- who has been sidelined through a brutal shoulder injury for the last six months- makes his highly anticipated return and will face off against newly established light heavyweight Alex Pereira, who made the jump up from middleweight earlier this year when he debuted in the weight class with a lacklustre decision victory over Jan Blachowicz.
The vacant light heavyweight title is on the line after former champion Jamahal Hill relinquished the belt after picking up a devasting ruptured ACL in training earlier this year.
White has confirmed that more fights are set to be added to the UFC 295 and UFC 296 cards over the next few weeks as the organisation looks to sign off a stellar year of events with some of the biggest title matchups we have seen in the UFC’s history.
