December might be a time that many come together for Christmas and other festive celebrations, but it is also a month in which sports fans are able to rejoice!
There are numerous big sporting events that take place worldwide, with almost every single type of activity providing some entertainment in abundance for fans.
On the surface, there is nothing that is truly different than many of those held all year round, but the time of year and the time in which certain events occur annually.
Boxing Day Football
Fans of soccer, particularly those of UK football, will know that Boxing Day is an important time in the sport’s calendar. It has become a tradition that has been enjoyed for decades around the country, with many using it as a way to spend time with the family and to watch their favorite teams compete.
The UK’s football calendar is packed on the day with fixtures being played all over the region, from the Premier League and all the way down to the bottom of the Football League ladder and into non-league. As part of a tradition, there are many who can’t wait for this period of the year, as they find it the perfect way to cap off the festive celebrations and get ready for the new year.
King George VI Chase
Boxing Day in the UK has also become a tradition for horse racing enthusiasts, with fans able to watch the King George VI Chase. A Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase, the race is held annually at Kempton Park and sees punters flock to the racecourse in the cold December chill to watch horses compete over 18 fences in order to try and win one of the world’s most prestigious races.
Those who do not want to brace the cold elements for this race or want to watch any sport online are now given the opportunity to do so through a live streaming platform. They can enjoy the thrills that this race (or any other event) can provide from the warmth of their own homes.
NFL Matches
December is the business end of the NFL regular season, thus making it a month where teams can see their seasons be made or broken. The race for the playoffs begins to reach its final conclusion throughout the month.
With teams likely to be on the bubble as they enter the period, there are likely to be a number of exceptional contests throughout that all mean something for those still involved.
Big 12 Championship Game
The Big 12 Championship Game is one of college football’s biggest and most anticipated by fans of the sport. It is typically held in the first weekend of December, but has been known to be played at a later date on occasion.
The game will see the two best teams from the Big 12 Conference compete against each other for bragging rights. The Oklahoma Sooners have been the most successful in history, having won 11 titles. However, they last appeared in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2020.
NBA In-Season Tournament Final Stages
A new tournament to have been created for the NBA this season, December will be the month in which we will see the inaugural winner of the NBA In-Season Tournament be crowned with the NBA Cup.
December 4-9 will be dedicated to this tournament’s quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, while the remainder of the month will see regular season action resume. This could give basketball fans something new and something to look forward to each year if it succeeds.
UFC 296
Combat sports fans will not be left out this December, either. While there will be big-time boxing events to take place throughout the month, UFC and MMA fans will be able to lick their lips at the prospect of UFC 296 this winter.
The headline fight of this bout is a UFC Welterweight Championship fight between Lewis Edwards and Colby Covington. It is scheduled to take place on December 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If the war of words between the two fighters is anything to come by, then fight fans may feel Christmas has come a week early, as the two have everything needed to put on a spectacular bout.
