Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett Fight Set for UFC 296 in Las Vegas

Tony Ferguson and Paddy Pimblett will fight at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White announced Friday.

The bout will take place December 16 at T-Mobile Arena.

Ferguson, who won 12 straight bouts from 2013 to 2019, is now looking to snap a six-fight losing streak against Pimblett.

Pimblett will be making his return from an ankle injury that has kept him from the octagon since December.

Pimblett previously said he would be "lucky to fight this year" after undergoing surgery in March. "The Baddy" injured his ankle during a decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in December.

"I hurt my foot in the first round, in like the first minute or two, threw a kick, hurt it," Pimblett told Sky Sports in April (h/t MMA Junkie.) "I felt it, like, but obviously we crack on, we get through the fight... It was a lot worse than we thought. I had to get inner and outer-ligament surgery, well reconstruction, so, it's big."

At the time, Pimblett said he had already been on crutches for six weeks.

Despite controversy over the unanimous decision to call his win over Gordon, Pimblett is undefeated in the octagon after wins over Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas, and Jordan Leavitt.

Ferguson, in contrast, has not won since 2019. His extended winless streak includes losses to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and most recently a loss to Bobby Green at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City in July.

"El Cucuy," who never got a title shot during his 12-fight winning streak, might have his best chance yet at finally getting back in the win column against Pimblett and his newly repaired ankle. The fight is set to take place nine months after Pimblett's surgery.