Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards to headline final UFC show of 2020

UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev (9-0-0) didn't get a fight with former two-division champion Conor McGregor to end his year, but he will headline the promotion's final show of 2020. 

ESPN's Ariel Helwani reported on Friday afternoon that Chimaev, who might already be the fighter of the year, will face Leon Edwards (18-3-0) in the last match on the last UFC card before 2021 on Dec. 19. 

Edwards is on an eight-fight win streak but hasn't competed in the Octagon since he toppled Rafael Dos Anjos in July 2019 for a variety of reasons. A bout between Edwards and Tyron Woodley set for March 21 in London was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic, and Edwards rejected multiple possible fights throughout the remainder of the year. He reportedly previously turned down a matchup with Chimaev before accepting for the Dec. 19 event. 

Chimaev, meanwhile, is a perfect 3-0 in the UFC and generated headlines when he beat John Phillips on July 15 and then defeated Rhys McKee just 10 days later. He needed only 17 seconds and one punch to knock Gerald Meerschaert out on Sept. 19.