Pimblett-Ferguson added to UFC 296 card

A lightweight matchup between Paddy Pimblett and Tony Ferguson is being added to the UFC 296 taking place on Dec. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promotion CEO Dana White announced Friday.

Pimblett (20-3) will step into the Octagon for the first time since securing a controversial unanimous decision victory over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in Dec 2022. A rising star in the lightweight division, Pimblett has secured finishes in three of his first four fights with the promotion.

The 28-year-old Pimblett has been out of action as he recovers from an ankle injury.

Ferguson (25-9) is looking to halt a six-fight losing skid that dates back to May 2020. The 39-year-old dropped his latest bout to Bobby Green via submission at UFC 291 in July and has been finished in each of his last three fights. The former lightweight title contender won 12 consecutive fights from 2013-19, earning the interim title during his win streak.

White also confirmed that a welterweight bout between Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Shavkat Rakhmonov will be featured on the Dec. 16 card.

UFC 296 is set to be headlined by a welterweight title fight between challenger Colby Covington and champion Leon Edwards.