ufc 197

After some hesitancy, the UFC has confirmed two championship fights to headline UFC 197 on March 5 from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Featherweight champ Conor McGregor (19-2) makes the move up from 145 pounds to face Rafael Dos Anjos (25-7) for the lightweight title in the main event. And Holly Holm (10-0) will put her women’s bantamweight title on the line against Miesha Tate (17-5) in the co-headliner.

UFC officials confirmed the news on Tuesday.

After knocking out longtime featherweight champ Jose Aldo in December to capture the 145-pound crown, McGregor will look to become the first fighter in history to hold two UFC belts in two different weight classes simultaneously when he challenges Dos Anjos.

The 31-year-old Brazilian won the 155-pound title in March of last year with a unanimous decision over Anthony Pettis. Dos Anjos stopped Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 66-seconds in December for his first title defense.

Holm of course knocked out Ronda Rousey to capture the women’s 135-pound title in November in what was just her third UFC fight. “The Preacher’s Daughter” will be looking to increase her unbeaten streak to 11 in this first title defense.

Tate is on a four-fight run and is currently ranked No. 2 in the division, just below Rousey. She last fought in July 2015 in what amounted to a complete domination of Jessica Eye for the unanimous decision win.

Tickets for UFC 197: Dos Anjos vs. McGregor go on sale to the general public on Friday, Jan. 22. UFC 197 will air live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 5.

UFC will host a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20 in Las Vegas with all four competitors, along with UFC President Dana White, to launch the event.

Check out this fan-made trailer:

https://youtu.be/QNVbvwduW9Y

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