Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will meet interim titleholder Conor McGregor in a unification bout on Dec. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole first reported the news on Monday citing UFC president Dana White. The fight will headline UFC 194.
The two were originally slated to headline UFC 189 on July 11, but Aldo pulled out of the fight due to a rib injury. Top contender Chad Mendes stepped in on short notice to face McGregor and the fight promotion created an interim title. McGregor captured the interim belt by finishing Mendes by technical knockout in the final seconds of the second round.
Leading up to the originally scheduled UFC 189 bout, the organization promoted the event like no other fight before it. Aldo and McGregor participated in a world tour for eleven days that saw the fighters touch down on three different continents.
There were discussions to have the highly anticipated fight at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, but White said that MGM Grand officials, “moved heaven and Earth” to make their venue available for the Dec. 12 date.
Aldo is the only featherweight champion in UFC history. He is on an 18-fight winning streak and hasn’t tasted defeat in a decade. McGregor is on a 14-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost in five years.