UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington Fight Card, Date, Timings in IST, Telecast & Live Streaming Info

The Ultimate Fighting Championship closes 2023 with a stacked card this weekend at their base as T-Mobile Arena hosts UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington, which is headlined by a championship double header.

In the main event, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards steps into the Octagon with former interim titleholder and current No. 3 contender Colby Covington, while UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends his title for the first time in a rematch against No. 4 Brandon Royval in the co-main event.

Also on the main card, No. 5 ranked welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov intends to uphold his reputation in a thrilling tilt with fan-favorite and No. 6 Stephen Thompson after former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and Paddy Pimblett look to steal the show.

In the main card opener, a featherweight scrap sees former title challenger and No. 6 ranked Josh Emmett clash with high-level grappler No. 10 Bryce Mitchell after Dana White's Contender Series contract winners Alonzo Menifield and Dustin Jacoby battle in a light heavyweight bout that closes the prelims.

The preliminary card will also see No. 5 ranked women's bantamweight contender Irene Aldana face off against No. 9 Karol Rosa in a high-stakes bout after an exciting matchup in the 135-pound division sees former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt take on Brian Kelleher.

Plus, the prelims opener will see No. 12 ranked contender Casey O'Neill take on Ariane
Lipski at flyweight after the early prelims that will see the likes of Tagir Ulanbekov, Cody Durden, Andre Fili, Lucas Almeida, Martin Buday and Shamil Gaziev in action.

Here is all you need to know about UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington from date, timings, fight card, fight location, telecast and live streaming information of the event in India:

When and where is UFC 296 taking place?

The event is set to take place on Saturday (December 16) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. And due to time difference in India, the event will start in the early hours of Sunday (December 17).

What time does UFC 296 early preliminary and preliminary card start?

The early preliminary card starts at 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT / 11 PM GMT (Saturday, December 16) | 4:30 AM IST (Sunday, December 17), while the preliminary card starts at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT (Saturday, December 16) | 1 AM GMT / 6:30 AM IST (Sunday, December 17).

What time does UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington main card start?

The main card of UFC 296: Edwards vs Covington headlined by the Welterweight World Championship bout, starts at 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT (Saturday, December 16) | 3 AM GMT / 8:30 AM IST (Sunday, December 17).

Where and how to watch UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington in India?

Watch the LIVE coverage of UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington main card on Sony Sports Ten 2 (English), Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) & Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels from 8:30 AM IST on December 17. Fans in India, can also live stream the main card on Sony LIV.

UFC 296 Fight Card

Main Card: The main card features two World Championship bouts in the welterweight and flyweight division, alongside a bout each in featherweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions.

Welterweight World Championship Bout: Leon Edwards (c) vs. Colby Covington
Flyweight World Championship Bout: Alexandre Pantoja (c) vs. Brandon Royval
Welterweight Bout: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson
Lightweight Bout: Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett
Featherweight Bout: Josh Emmett vs. Bryce Mitchell

Preliminary Card: The prelims features a women's flyweight bout, a women's bantamweight bout, a light heavyweight bout and a bantamweight bout before the main card opens at the T-Mobile Arena.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Alonzo Menifield vs. Dustin Jacoby
Women's Bantamweight Bout: Irene Aldana vs. Karol Rosa
Bantamweight Bout: Cody Garbrandt vs. Brian Kelleher
Women's Flyweight Bout: Casey O'Neill vs. Ariane Lipski

Early Preliminary Card: The early prelims, on the other hand, features three more bouts - a heavyweight bout that will open the event alongside flyweight and featherweight bouts.