Report: T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Lineker targeted for UFC 207

A bantamweight matchup between ex-champ T.J. Dillashaw and John Lineker is set for UFC 207, according to ESPN.com.

A report indicates both sides have verbally agreed to the bout, which could serve as a title eliminator.

UFC 207 takes place Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event’s main card airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Dillashaw (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), the No. 2 ranked bantamweight in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings, pushed hard for a rematch with champ and No. 1 Dominick Cruz (22-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) after losing the belt in January at UFC Fight Night 81.

A rebound win over now-No. 3 Raphael Assuncao put him back into contention, but hopes for a crack at the title were dashed by the recent announcement of Cruz facing off with No. 7 Cody Garbrandt (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) as the co-headliner of the Dec. 30 pay-per-view event.

No. 8 ranked Lineker (29-7 MMA, 10-2 UFC), meanwhile, gets another breath of life at bantamweight after a weight miss in his previous bout, a UFC Fight Night 96 headliner opposite John Dodson.

The heavy-handed Brazilian’s fifth UFC overage was even more shocking given the fact that he now fights a division higher than flyweight, where he was forced from after his fourth time coming in heavy.

Despite the setback, Lineker earned a split decision victory, picking up his sixth win and immediately putting himself in bantamweight contention.

With the addition to the card, UFC 207 now includes:

• Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey – women’s bantamweight title
• Champ Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt – bantamweight title
• Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum
• T.J. Dillashaw vs. John Lineker
• Alex Garcia vs. Mike Pyle
• Johny Hendricks vs. Neil Magny
• Tim Means vs. Alex Oliveira
• Matt Brown vs. Tarec Saffiedine
• Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Marvin Vettori
• Sabah Homasi vs. Brandon Thatch

For more on UFC 207, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.