With a headliner and co-headliner now set, the lineup is nearly full for next week’s year-ending UFC 219 event.
“UFC 219: Cyborg vs. Holm” takes place Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and the main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
As previously announced, women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg (18-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) looks for her first UFC title defense when she takes on former bantamweight titleholder Holly Holm (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in the headliner.
Additionally, in the co-headliner, Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who’s No. 4 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, takes on No. 6-ranked Edson Barboza (19-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC).
The bout could be a title-eliminator, though reigning champ Conor McGregor’s return to the cage appears uncertain.
However, one change to the UFC 219 card was confirmed on Tuesday. Although quickly booked for his second UFC fight after a blistering first-round knockout of Henrique da Silva in his promotional debut, light heavyweight Gokhan Saki (1-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is no longer part of UFC 219. Instead, with the kickboxer injured, his scheduled UFC 219 opponent, Khalil Rountree (6-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), instead will fight replacement Michal Oleksiejczuk (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC).
Oleksiejczuk, a 22-year-old promotional newcomer from Poland, is riding a nine-fight winning streak that includes seven knockouts and one submission victory. “The Ultimate Fighter 23” runner-up Rountree, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Daniel Jolly and Paul Craig.
The latest UFC 219 card includes:
For more on UFC 219, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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