White has now declared that the vacant UFC light heavyweight title will be up for grabs in the co-main event of the night. Alex Pereira (8-2) will challenge Jiri Prochazka (29-3) for the strap, which was vacated by Jamahal Hill back in June due to a ruptured Achilles.
“Poatan” won the middleweight title, lost it, moved up a weight class and defeated former champ Jan Blachowicz to earn his second title bid within a span of just six UFC outings. Meanwhile, Prochazka hasn’t competed in a year and a half ever since he had to vacate the light heavyweight title due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
White also finally announced the much overdue welterweight title clash between Leon Edwards (21-3) and Colby Covington (17-3), which will headline UFC 296 on Dec. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After Edwards’ title defense against Kamaru Usman in a trilogy bout earlier this year at UFC 286, White has been adamant about Covington getting the next shot, much to the dismay of other elite 170 pounders.
The card will be co-headlined by a flyweight title clash between Alexandre Pantoja (26-5) and Brandon Royval (15-6). The champion, Pantoja, will look to repeat history in the rematch after submitting Royval in Round 2 of their initial clash back in 2021.