BREAKING: UFC Superstar Paddy Pimblett to Fight UFC Veteran at UFC 296 in December

Paddy Pimblett finally returns.

British MMA standout Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett will fight Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson at UFC 296 on December 16. 

UFC CEO Dana White made the announcement via social media on September 23, alongside Stephen Thompson vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov. The fight will sit on the main card underneath Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, which White also announced on September 21.

RELATED: UFC CEO Dana White Announces Colby Covington vs. Leon Edwards for UFC 296 Main Event in December

Pimblett will return from an ankle injury that has forced him out of the sport since his last fight in December 2022. The Liverpudlian fighter will be looking for a statement victory after his highly contentious decision victory over Jared Gordon at UFC 288.

Ferguson, despite being on a six-fight losing streak, still remains a significant step up in competition for Pimblett, both in terms of name value and experience. It will be exactly the type of matchup "The Baddy" needs to steady his boat and promote his stock even further after a long hiatus.

It's not the matchup most were expecting, but Pimblett was keen on a tune-up fight in late 2023 before considering a top contender in early 2024, such as Matt Frevola. Hopefully, the hype surrounding "The Baddy" hasn't wained in his time away from the octagon, and he can continue bringing fresh eyes to the sport at UFC 296.

RELATED: UFC Slugger Makes Bold Challenge: Paddy Pimblett, Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje in His Crosshairs

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