UFC boss Dana White has announced a slew of mega fights for the summer – including a mouth-watering showdown between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
The long-awaited rematch between the former lightweight title challengers will headline UFC 291 in Salt Lake City on July 29.
GETTYDustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will renew their rivalry at UFC 291 on July 29[/caption]
GETTYAljamain Sterling will defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292[/caption]
GETTYUFC president Dana White announced the fights early on Thursday morning[/caption]
And the promotion have brought back the ‘Baddest Motherf****r in the Game’ belt for their return to Utah.
Early on Wednesday morning, White said: “To end the month, we’re going back to Salt Lake City, Utah.
“And I want to thank our partners at the Utah Jazz and the Smith Entertainment Group for hosting UFC 291 on Saturday, July 29 from the Delta Center.
“So, since Jorge Masvidal retired the BMF title is back up for grabs.
“The main event will be five rounds between the No.2 and No.3 lightweights in the world.
“Former champion Dustin Poirier takes on another former champion, Justin Gaethje, for the vacant BMF title.
“Two of the baddest dudes in the game.”
Fan favourites Poirier and Gaethje – both 34 – locked horns with one another five years ago at UFC on Fox 29 in Gaethje’s home state of Arizona.
Poirier came out of the barnburner victorious, stopping Gaethje in the fourth round.
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White also revealed a second barnstorming title fight – between bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley – will headline UFC 292 on August 19.
He said: “In August, we told you a few weeks ago, that we were targeting Boston, Massachusetts – and now it’s official.
“UFC 292 on August 19, the fight everyone has been waiting for: Aljamain Sterling versus ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley.
“O’Malley is unbeaten in his last five fights and will be the fourth Contenders Series alum to fight for a UFC title.”
GETTYZhang Weili will defend her strawweight title against Amanda Lemos[/caption]
The veteran promoter followed up that announcement by revealing Zhang Weili will defend her 115lb belt against Brazil‘s Amanda Lemos.
He said: “The co-main event will be Weili Zhang versus Amanda Lemos – who has won seven of her last eight fights.
“And that fight is obviously going to be for Weili’s strawweight title.
“Back in Boston for the first time in nearly four years.”
The UFC will return to pay-per-view action next month, with a women’s bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana headlining UFC 289.