December’s UFC 296 continues to grow, with yet another big fight announced for the year-end Pay-Per-View by promotion President and CEO Dana White.
A few hours after UFC Vegas 79 on Saturday, White revealed in a video message posted to social media that welterweights Ian Machado Garry (13-0) and Vicente Luque (22-9-1) will collide on December 16, 2023.
Luque is currently ranked #10, and Garry #11 in the UFC’s 170lb division.
Brazil’s Vicente Luque recently got back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over former lightweight champ and welterweight contender Rafael dos Anjos, a victory that snapped a two-fight skid for “The Silent Assassin.”
Luque has long hung with some of the big names in the division, and beyond RDA has wins over the likes of Niko Price, ex-champ Tyron Woodley, Michael Chiesa, and fellow contender Belal Muhammad.
Ireland’s Garry remains undefeated in his professional career and his been on a tear since entering the UFC, with comparisons frequently made to fellow Irish star Conor McGregor. Garry has finished the likes of Song Kenan and Daniel “D-Rod” Rodriguez under the UFC banner, and most recently won a clear-cut decision against Neil Magny, in a fight that rather surprisingly became something of a grudge match when Garry accused Magny of child abuse.
UFC 296 is set for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 16 with a pair of title fights topping the marquee. In the main event, welterweight champion Leon Edwards will put his title on the line against Colby Covington, in a fight that has been expected for months. The co-main event, meanwhile, sees new flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja defending against Brandon Royval.
Currently, the following fights have been announced for UFC 296:
- Leon Edwards (c) vs. Colby Covington — for the UFC welterweight championship
- Alexandre Pantoja (c) vs. Brandon Royval — for the UFC flyweight championship
- Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett
- Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson
- Vicente Luque vs. Ian Machado Garry
