Champ Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold co-headlines UFC 194 in Las Vegas

Chris Weidman

A middleweight title fight between champion Chris Weidman and challenger Luke Rockhold (14-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will co-headline UFC 194 in December.

UFC officials today announced the fight via “SportsCenter.”

UFC 194 takes place Dec. 12 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

As previously announced, longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo (25-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) meets recently crowned interim titleholder Conor McGregor (18-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the headliner, and the event is expected to be one of the biggest in MMA history.

Weidman (13-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who recently clashed with his long-expected foe on Twitter, is ranked No. 1 in the NOS Energy Drink MMA middleweight rankings, and Rockhold is No. 2.

Weidman, who turned pro in 2009 after earning NCAA Division I All-American wrestling honors, looks for his fourth consecutive title defense after taking the belt from longtime champ Anderson Silva in 2013. The 31-year-old Serra-Longo Fight Team member has since posted title defenses over Silva, Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort.

Rockhold, a 30-year-old American Kickboxing Academy rep, earned his title shot on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. After a loss to Belfort in 2013, the former Strikeforce champion has defeated Costas Philippou, Tim Boestch, Michael Bisping and Machida. He earned three fight-night bonuses in the process.

For more on UFC 194, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.