The UFC is targeting a featherweight title rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway for next month’s UFC 251 tentatively scheduled to take place on ‘Fight Island’, according to a report by ESPN.
The organisation is also understood to be pursuing fights between Petr Yan and Jose Aldo for the bantamweight championship recently vacated by Henry Cejudo, while a welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman — most likely against Gilbert Burns — is also in contention, per Ariel Helwani.
While it has not yet been made official, the prospective Volkanovski-Holloway fight would be a rematch of their December 2019 bout which was won by the Australian fighter after five rounds of action, ending the Hawaiian’s undefeated streak at 145-pounds which had been intact since losing a decision to Conor McGregor in the summer of 2013.
Volkanovski, meanwhile, has posted a perfect 8-0 record in the UFC to this point and has been beaten just once in 22 professional contests.
The Yan-Aldo fight, meanwhile, is being eyed as being the first fight in a potential new generation at bantamweight. Russia’s Yan is a perfect 6-0 in the UFC so far and while Aldo’s career achievements speak for themselves, the Brazilian has suffered defeat in his last two contests in the cage. Aljamain Sterling, victorious last weekend against Cory Sandhagen, awaits the winner.
As for Kamaru Usman, it is looking as though Gilbert Burns’ win against Tyron Woodley — coupled with Jorge Masvidal’s current pay spat with the UFC — has secured the Brazilian the next shot at the 170-pound title.
The event, which is scheduled for July 11, is set to take place at the undisclosed ‘Fight Island’.
