December 12, 2023 12:30 pm ET
UFC 296 will close out the promotion’s 2023 at the end of the week with two title fights at the top of the lineup.
As is the case with all major title fights in its jurisdiction, the Nevada Athletic Commission held a hearing Tuesday to select officials for the two championship bouts.
In the main event, welterweight champion Leon Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) puts his title on the line against former interim champ Colby Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC). And in the co-feature, flyweight titleholder Alexandre Pantoja (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) meets challenger Brandon Royval (15-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC).
Referees and judges were voted on and unanimously approved after recommendation from NAC executive director Jeff Mullen. UFC 296 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.
See the list of officials below.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval referee
Dec 14, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kamaru Usman (right) and Colby Covington (left) are separated by referee Marc Goddard during UFC 245 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Regular UFC referee fixture Marc Goddard will be the third man in the cage for the co-main event flyweight title fight between champion Pantoja and challenger Royval. He’ll be paid $2,600 for the event.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval judges
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Brandon Royval celebrates his victory by submission against Matt Schnell during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Longtime Nevada officials Eric Colon, Junichiro Kamijo and Ron McCarthy will be charged with judging the co-main event flyweight title fight between champion Pantoja and challenger Royval. They’ll be paid $2,300 each for their services.
Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington referee
Herb Dean and Leon Edwards
Herb Dean, arguably the most popular MMA referee working today, as well as one of the busiest, will oversee the main event welterweight title fight between champ Edwards and former interim champ and challenger Covington. Like Goddard, Dean will be paid $2,600 for the event.
Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington judges
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 05: Colby Covington reacts after being called the winner over Jorge Masvidal in their welterweight fight during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena on March 05, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775780751 ORIG FILE ID: 1380974819
Derek Cleary, Sal D’Amato and Chris Lee will be the judges for the five-round 170-pound title fight in the headliner. They will be paid $2,300 each.
UFC 296 full fight card
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington – for welterweight title
Champ Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval – for flyweight title
Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson
Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett
Vicente Luque vs. Ian Machado Garry
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET)
Josh Emmett vs. Bryce Mitchell
Irene Aldana vs. Karol Rosa
Cody Garbrandt vs. Brian Kelleher
Ariane Lipski vs. Casey O’Neill
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Dustin Jacoby vs. Alonzo Menifield
Cody Durden vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
Lucas Almeida vs. Andre Fili
Martin Buday vs. Shamil Gaziev
Randy Brown vs. Muslim Salikhov
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
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