Paddy Pimblett vs Tony Ferguson date: UK start time, full fight card and how to follow UFC 296 clash as Baddy returns for biggest test

Paddy Pimblett will finally make his return to the Octagon in December to face former UFC interim champion Tony Ferguson.

'The Baddy' has not fought since December 2022 after suffering a serious ankle injury in his victory over Jared Gordon.

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The 28-year-old was riding a four-fight UFC win streak but was forced to go under the knife in a move that curtailed his plans for 2023.

The Liverpudlian will now get the chance to finish this year on a high in what will be his toughest fight to date against Ferguson.

‘El Cucuy’ has lost six consecutive bouts and hasn’t tasted victory inside the Octagon since stopping Donald Cerrone in 2019.

But at the peak of his powers, Ferguson won a record-setting 12 lightweight fights in a row and captured an interim title so would still be a huge name on Pimblett's resume should he claim victory.

Pimblett vs Ferguson: Date and how to follow

UFC 296 will take place on Saturday, December 16.

The action is being held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The preliminary card will get underway around 11:30pm UK time before the main card at 2am - with Pimblett against Ferguson at around 4am.

The prelims are set to be broadcast live on the UFC Fight Pass before the main card will be shown live on TNT Sports.

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UFC 296: Fight card 

Subject to change

Main Card

• MAIN EVENT: Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington - for UFC Welterweight title
• Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval - for UFC Flyweight title
• Paddy Pimblett vs Tony Ferguson
• Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Stephen Thompson
• Vicente Luque vs. Ian Machado Garry

Preliminary card

• Josh Emmett vs Giga Chikadze
• Alonzo Menifield vs Dustin Jacoby
• Martin Buday vs Shamil Gaziev
• Cody Garbrandt vs Brian Kelleher

Early preliminary card

• Irene Aldana vs Karol Rosa
• Randy Brown vs Muslim Salikhov
• Tagir Ulanbekov vs Cody Durden
• Casey O'Neill vs Ariane Lipski

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Pimblett vs Ferguson: What has been said?

Dana White has responded to the backlash for booking Pimblett vs Ferguson considering the fighters' respective recent results.

"I think a lot of people think Paddy is unproven, and I think a lot of people feel like this is a fight that Tony isn’t in deep water like he’s been in, in his last several fights,” White said.

“I think the matchmaking and the timing on this fight is excellent and couldn’t be more perfect.

"If you look at Tony’s last few fights that he’s fought, he looked damn good before, you know, the [Michael] Chandler finish, and every fight that he’s fought in the last two or three fights. He looked damn good right up until the end.

“So, it’s a fun, interesting fight with two fun and interesting characters.”

On whether another defeat for Ferguson would spell retirement, White added: “I would let Tony make that decision, but I’m sure if he loses to Paddy he would probably look at calling it.

“He’s had a great career. Done a lot of things, had a lot of big fights. That would probably be a wrap for him. Hopefully.”