And here is the champion Leon Edwards.

He has a big smile on his face and looks incredibly relaxed as he walks out to the tune of 'Shabba Madda Pot' by Jamaican dancehall and reggae performer Dexta Daps.

There are some boos in the arena but Edwards looks unfazed.

Joe Rogan
UFC commentator on TNT Sports

Covington has such a unique skill base. Colby is a brilliant wrestler. He can stay on you round after round and he never gets tired.

If we have seen a weakness in Leon Edwards over the years, he tends to fade when facing guys like that.

A packed T-Mobile Arena, the final fight in the UFC in 2023 and it's time for both fighters to make their walk to the octagon.

Challenger Colby Covington is first up.

Covington, with the American flag draped over his shoulders, comes out to the song made famous by former WWE champion Kurt Angle as the crowd chant "you suck" in unison.

He takes a moment to go and greet former President Donald Trump at the side of the octagon before entering and waiting for the champion to arrive.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

After compiling a record of eight wins and one defeat on the regional scene in the UK, Leon Edwards was handed his big chance to shine in the UFC.

However, Edwards' debut in 2013 did not go to plan.

Edwards travelled to Brazil and was handed a strong spot on the billing - he was third from the end - but home fighter Claudio Silva won by split decision.

Interestingly, tonight's opponent Colby Covington was also on that card, making his second appearance in the UFC, but he was no where near the main card and had to settle for opening the prelims when he beat Wagner Silva by submission.

Back to Edwards, though, and the Jamaica-born fighter has barely put a foot wrong since that loss in Brazil, with his only other defeat in the meantime coming when he met Kamaru Usman for the first time in 2015.

Edwards will step into the octagon tonight unbeaten in 12 - although one of those fights was a no contest against Belal Muhammad due to an accidental eye poke.

"I'm on an 11-fight win streak - one of the longest in the UFC in general," Edwards told BBC Sport.

"So I feel if I go out there, keep adding these new guys to my reign, when it's all said and done I think I'll go down as one of the best of all time."

UFC welterweight Vicente Luque: "I'm gonna go with Leon. He's more active, he's coming off great wins over Kamaru Usman, who is a tough guy to beat and I think it's his moment right now. Colby hasn't fought for a while, we don't know what we're gonna see, so I'm gonna go with Leon."

UFC welterweight Ian Garry: "I think Leon absolutely smashes [Covington]. Colby gets a lot of hype for nothing. The biggest thing Colby Covington has done is lose to Kamaru Usman twice... twice. Leon has gone out and beat Kamaru Usman, twice.

"I think Leon is absolutely, surgically... I think he's gonna dominate him. I've trained with Leon, and I know how good Leon is."

UFC welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov: "I don't know who's going to win but I believe the champion has the advantage because he's champion for a reason. But it doesn't matter who's going to win; I'm ready for anyone."

Speaking of Leon Edwards, who fancies reliving his UFC title at UFC 278?

The man himself brings you through his night, from backstage to head-kick.

UFC welterweight Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson: "People are going to say it's wrong but I feel like from looking at the Usman-Colby fight, you saw what happened there. And then you saw what happened with Leon and Usman obviously. And it goes to show that Leon is just as good in the fifth round as he is in the first.

"He's got great takedown defence and also a gas tank. I know Colby Covington is that, but I feel like Colby and Usman are very similar fighters and Usman is the better of them, and Leon defeated him.

"I think Colby is going to be in Leon's face the entire time and try to tire him out, but I do believe in Leon's striking. He is the bigger opponent as well, and he'll be able to defend the takedown easier. I feel Leon is going to take him apart."

UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett: "I think we all know Leon is going to come out and win this fight. He's beaten Usman twice, and if Usman wasn't able to take Leon down in the third fight, then Colby isn't going to be able to take him down. He's the much smaller man. I can see Leon piecing him up and finishing him in the third round."

UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson: "I don't care, they're not the main event, I'm the main event. That's how I train and I don't care who else is on the card, I really don't."

Alexandre Pantoja retains his flyweight title.

Two judges had it 50-45 and the other scored it 49-46 - all in favour of the Brazilian.

That was a top-level bout, some really impressive ground game from both and they looked out on their feet by the end.

Image source, Getty Images

Well this has been a fun night so far, keeping across boxing in Arizona and UFC 296 in Las Vegas.

With everything done and dusted with the boxing, let's go full steam ahead with the UFC... that's our sole focus for the rest of this live text.

The final buzzer has just gone in the co-main event between flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval.

Decision pending and then we are on to the main event!

The final moments in a brilliant fight between two warriors.

Jesse Rodriguez extends his undefeated record to 19-0 with 12 stoppages.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The co-main event has just entered the fifth and final round.

There has been some really high-level jiu jitsu from both fighters, but champion Pantoja in particular.

I've got Pantoja on track for a win if this goes the distance but Royval seems to recognise that and has come out with intent, finding his range with the hands, in this last round.

Promoter Eddie Hearn speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "We need to thank these guys for giving boxing what it needs.

"Bam Rodriguez, that was like a pound-for-pound performance. He never actually let Sunny get into the fight at all.

"I think he popped his eye socket in the second round, the cut came in the sixth or seventh and Sunny kept fighting back and fight the fight that doesn't suit him. He had to stay in the pocket and trade.

"Grant Smith 100 per cent the right decision to pull him out. He would have kept going but it was a heavy knock down.

"It was an incredible fight. Sunny Edwards, you know how good he is, but he got well beaten tonight by a pound-for-pound star of the sport.

"I worried about this fight in terms of its entertainment because Sunny likes to make people miss, he's elusive. The injuries and the pressure of Bam and how good he was at cutting the ring off, he had no option but to stand and fight."

Image source, Getty Images

Tensions remained high at Friday's weigh-in when UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Colby Covington came face to face for the last time before they meet in the octagon.

British champion Edwards weighed in at 170lb with American Covington 169.5lb.

"Obviously yesterday I was a bit emotional but it is what it is. I think it shows the character of the man he is and it makes it much more easier to go out there and hurt him," said Edwards.

"I don't want an apology. He said what he said. He's using my dad's death. As a man I'd never do that, I'd never speak of the dead, but that's who he is.

"I've spoken to my family, my mum and I have a great team behind me. I've got to be cold, stick to my game plan, listen to my coaches and secure victory."

READ MORE: Edwards & Covington in emotionally-charged final face-off

Back to the boxing for a moment.

Briton Sunny Edwards is devastated at ringside and has been speaking to Steve Bunce on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Like I said in the ring, I just couldn't see," he said.

"From the second round, my eye was completely blurry and from about round six I got cut. It was getting hard in there, more through the vision.

"This is a hell of a fighter and my tricks that usually get me out of the way of shots, he was getting on to them. Bitterly disappointed, but grateful to be in the main event.

"Flyweight boxers, we don't get this. I'll be back, boxing is all I've got. Just a bit disappointed my eye went so early on. But, yes, no excuses from me.

"When I try to blow my nose, my eye pops out. I just feel a bit sick to be honest."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Whether it was a character or the real Colby Covington, the comments made by the American at Thursday's press conference can't be excused.

Covington is said to be much more palatable away from the bright lights and cameras, but, as we saw with his repulsive remarks to Leon Edwards, the same can't be said when he has all eyes looking in his direction.

"I wouldn't say that I have a persona, I just decided to turn myself up to 11," Covington told BBC Sport.

"I talk the talk and I walk the walk. Who cares what people think about me?"

But why does Covington feel the need to put on this act?

Before facing Brazilian Demian Maia six years ago, Covington found out he was going to be released from the UFC because they deemed he wasn't entertaining enough for the fans, despite being on a four-fight win streak.

"I tried to be nice and respectful early on in my career but then I realised people didn't care and I wasn't making big pay cheques," said Covington.

He was loudly booed and went on to insult Brazilians in an inflammatory post-fight speech, which went viral on social media, after beating Maia in Sao Paulo.

It was at that moment Covington realised he could cling on to a career in the UFC by playing the villain.

READ MORE: 'I turn myself up to 11'

Image source, Getty Images

Alexandre Pantoja beat Brandon Moreno by split decision to take the belt in July and he stopped Brandon Royval in two rounds when the pair met in 2021.

Both fighters like to lean heavily on their ground game with Pantoja picking up 10 victories by submission and Royval winning eight time via that route.

How will tonight's rematch play out? Can Pantoja keep hold of his title? Or will Royval take revenge and take the gold?

Back in Las Vegas, it's time for the co-main event as Alexandre Pantoja makes the first defence of his flyweight title against Brandon Royval.

There were just a few seconds left at the end of round nine when Rodriguez landed that shot.

Edwards managed to beat the count and returned to his corner but he told them he couldn't continue.

Rodriguez really is a special fighter.

Bam is the unified flyweight champion, adding the IBF belt to his WBO title.

You can hear full reaction here.

Image source, Matchroom

It's all over in Arizona!!!!

Rodriguez sends Edwards tumbling to the canvas with a left and Edwards' corner call for the fight to be over.

Wow!