UFC 296 storylines: Can Covington finally win a title vs. Edwards? - ESPN

Editor's note: The Ian Machado Garry vs. Vicente Luque fight has been canceled.

The most impactful storyline at UFC 296 will shine a spotlight on what's right in front of our eyes, sparkling with the promise of ascendance. Behold those golden championship belts — two of them! — that will be up for grabs on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, as luminous as the neon lights outside on the Las Vegas Strip.

Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight championship against two-time title challenger Colby Covington in the main event, right after Alexandre Pantoja puts his flyweight belt on the line against a familiar foe, Brandon Royval, whom he submitted barely two years ago (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET, prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m.).

Never say never in MMA, but this shapes up as a last-chance expedition to reach the sport's peak for both challengers. For the champs, Edwards will make his second defense and Pantoja his first; this is just the way of life at the top of the mountain. Line them up, one hungry climber after the next, and if the champion has staying power, he'll send 'em all tumbling down.

There are storylines up and down this fight card — from redemption to resilience to refocusing. Here's what will catch our eye on Saturday:

Welterweight championship: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington

This will be Covington's first trip inside the Octagon in 21 months. And get a load of this: It will be just his fifth fight since 2019 — but his third try for the title in that time. «Chaos» Covington is 2-2 in his past four bouts, but here we go again. The UFC appears to really want this guy to get his hands on a belt. Could that be because his most notable cheerleader is a certain former U.S. president who's popular with a significant