(Updated Dec. 13, 2023, for removal of Vicente Luque vs. Ian Machado Garry.)
We want your predictions for UFC 296 in Las Vegas.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 296 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. 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+.
Make your picks for the fights below.
Randy Brown vs. Muslim Salikhov
Records: Brown (17-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC), Salikhov (19-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Past five: Brown 4-1, Salikhov 3-2
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Brown -270, Salikhov +220
Martin Buday vs. Shamil Gaziev
Records: Buday (13-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Gaziev (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Past five: Buday 5-0, Gaziev 5-0
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Buday -160, Shail Gaziev +135
Lucas Almeida vs. Andre Fili
Records: Almeida (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Fili (22-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC)
Past five: Almeida 3-2, Andre Fili 2-3
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Fili -175, Almeida +145
Cody Durden vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
Records: Durden (16-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC), Ulanbekov (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Past five: Durden 4-1, Ulanbekov 4-1
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Durden honorable mention
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Ulanbekov -175, Durden +145
Dustin Jacoby vs. Alonzo Menifield
Records: Jacoby (19-7-1 MMA, 7-4-1 UFC), Menifield (14-3-1 MMA, 7-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Jacoby 3-2, Menifield 3-1-1
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Jacoby -265, Menifield +215
Ariane Lipski vs. Casey O'Neill
Records: Lipski (16-8 MMA, 5-5 UFC), O’Neill (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Past five: Lipski 3-2, O’Neill 4-1
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: O’Neill No. 12
Odds (as of 12.12.23): O’Neill -200, Lipski +170
Cody Garbrandt vs. Brian Kelleher
Records: Garbrandt (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), Kelleher (24-14 MMA, 8-7 UFC)
Past five: Garbrandt 2-3, Kelleher 2-3
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Garbrandt -210, Kelleher +175
Irene Aldana vs. Karol Rosa
Records: Aldana (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC), Rosa (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Past five: Aldana 3-2, Rosa 3-2
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Rankings: Aldana No. 6, Rosa No. 10
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Aldana -220, Rosa +180
Josh Emmett vs. Bryce Mitchell
Records: Emmett (18-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC), Mitchell (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC)
Past five: Emmett 3-2, Mitchell 4-1
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: Emmett No. 7, Mitchell No. 10
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Mitchell -220, Emmett +180
Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett
Records: Ferguson (25-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC), Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Past five: Ferguson 0-5, Pimblett 5-0
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Pimblett -330, Ferguson +260
Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson
Records: Rakhmonov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC)
Past five: Rakhmonov 5-0, Thompson 3-2
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Thompson No. 7, Rakhmonov No. 8
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Rakhmonov -650, Thompson +450
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval
Records: Pantoja (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC), Royval (15-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Past five: Pantoja 4-1, Royval 3-2
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Pantoja No. 2, honorable mention pound-for-pound; Royval No. 6
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Pantoja -185, Royval +155
Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington
Records: Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC)
Past five: Edwards 5-0, Covington 3-2
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: Edwards No. 1, No. 5 pound-for-pound; Covington No. 4
Odds (as of 12.12.23): Edwards -160, Covington +135
UFC 296 fight card (as of Dec. 13, 11 p.m. ET)
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. TBA
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.
