UFC 295 and UFC 296 Headline Bouts Revealed

Alex Pereira is returning to Madison Square Garden, and the Leon Edwards-Colby Covington title bout finally has a date

Alex Pereira has won both of his fights at Madison Square Garden. This November, he looks to make it three in a row.

Pereira is fighting Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 295 in November, which was announced on Tuesday night by UFC CEO Dana White. The bout will take place at MSG, the same hallowed venue where Pereira won his UFC debut, as well as the setting of his middleweight title victory against Israel Adesanya.

Now Pereira has a chance to add a second championship from a different weight class when he meets Prochazka for the vacant 205 belt. Prochazka had to vacate the title after a harrowing shoulder injury, but now returns to reclaim what he never lost.

🚨 HUGE FIGHT NEWS 🚨

November's #UFC295 co-main event will be @Jiri_BJP vs @AlexPereiraUFC for the vacant light heavyweight title!

AND your #UFC296 headliners will be @Leon_EdwardsMMA vs @ColbyCovMMA, with Alexandre Pantoja vs @BrandonRoyval serving as the co-main! pic.twitter.com/GTD5pnd1BD

— UFC (@ufc) September 21, 2023

White also announced the headline bouts for UFC 296. The card takes place in Las Vegas on December 16, and as of now, does not feature Conor McGregor. But the fights announced include Colby Covington stepping into the Octagon to challenge Leon Edwards for the welterweight championship, as well as Alexandre Pantoja making the first defense of his flyweight title against Brandon Royval.

White is planning on loading the card for MSG, so more big bouts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. And while it is unlikely that McGregor will fight Michael Chandler in December, it is not out of the realm of possibility.