Pereira-Prochazka added to UFC 295; Edwards to face Covington at UFC 296
UFC president Dana White announced on Wednesday three new title fights that will take place in the final two pay-per-view events of the year, including a welterweight matchup between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington in December.
Alex Pereira will face Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light heavyweight title in the UFC 295 co-main event on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden. That card will be headlined by a highly anticipated bout between heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former champ Stipe Miocic, White confirmed.
Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion, edged Jan Blachowicz via split decision in his light heavyweight debut in July. The 205-pound title became vacant after former champ Jamahal Hill relinquished it earlier in July due to an injury. Meanwhile, Prochazka, a former UFC light heavyweight champ, surrendered his belt last year before a rematch versus Glover Teixeira because of an injury. Prochazka's last fight dates back to June 2022 when he defeated Teixeira by submission to claim the belt.
White also announced Edwards and Covington will face off for the welterweight title in the UFC 296 headliner on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas. A flyweight bout between champion Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval will serve as the card's co-main event.
Edwards is undefeated in his last 12 fights. The 32-year-old is coming off consecutive wins over Kamaru Usman, most recently in March at UFC 286 via majority decision. Covington - a former UFC interim welterweight champion - hasn't fought since March 2022 when he earned a unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal.
An Edwards-Covington title fight had been rumored for months, but the idea seemingly didn't sit well with Edwards, who said in March that Covington would be "getting rewarded for not taking the fights." Covington lost to Usman in both of his challenges for the welterweight title in the past.
Meanwhile, this will be Pantoja's first flyweight title defense. The 33-year-old claimed the belt after beating Brandon Moreno by split decision at UFC 290 in July. Royval, who extended his winning streak to three fights after defeating Matheus Nicolau by TKO last April, is currently the No. 4 flyweight.