Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington: UFC 296 Odds

The UFC will close out 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, headlined by a main event bout between Leon Edwards of the United Kingdom and Jamaica and Colby Covington of the United States.

It’s a pick’em fight regarding the betting odds, with Edwards (the welterweight champion) slightly favored at DraftKings Sportsbook. Covington, the profane trash-talker and former title challenger, hasn’t fought since early 2022 but was gifted another shot at gold thanks to his infamy. As one of the UFC’s most lethal strikers, Edwards will look to avoid grappling exchanges.

The co-main event is a flyweight title fight between Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja and American Brandon Royval, with the former favored at nearly 2/1.

Sensational welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov of Kazakhstan is a huge 5/1 favorite over veteran Stephen Thompson, with Rakhmonov a potential challenger for the winner of Edwards-Covington. Add Rakhmonov to any parlay you’re considering this month.

Lightweight legend Tony Ferguson brings a devastating six-fight losing streak into a fight with polarizing British up-and-comer Paddy Pimblett (-250). A defeat for Ferguson, who has a history of severe emotional issues, could be his last UFC bout and mark the end of a tragic MMA run. Oddsmakers favor Pimblett despite many fans calling him one of the most overhyped fighters in the UFC.

A third welterweight contest rounds out the main card, with Irish prospect Ian Garry (-245) facing a durable Vincente Luque, who suffered a brain hemorrhagetoxic trash talk resulting in his X account going private, will have his biggest test.

Odds from DraftKings and subject to change. Props will be released close to the event.

• Welterweight: Leon Edwards (-130) vs. Colby Covington (+110)
• Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja (-198) vs. Brandon Royval (+164)
• Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov (-500) vs. Stephen Thompson (+380)
• Lightweight: Tony Ferguson (+205) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-250)
• Welterweight: Vicente Luque (+200) vs. Ian Garry (-245)

• Featherweight: Josh Emmett (+164) vs. Giga Chikadze (-198)
• Women’s Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (-205) vs. Karol Rosa (+170)
• Bantamweight Cody Garbrandt (-205) vs. Brian Kelleher (+170)
• Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill (-170) vs. Ariane Lipski (+142)

• Light Heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield (+170) vs. Dustin Jacoby (-205)
• Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov (-155) vs. Cody Durden (+130)
• Featherweight: Andre Fili (TBD) vs. Lucas Almeida (TBD)
• Heavyweight: Martin Buday (-175) vs. Shamil Gaziev (+145)
• Welterweight: Randy Brown (-198) vs. Muslim Salikhov (+164)