An interim lightweight title fight between featherweight champion Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will headline UFC 236 on April 13, UFC president Dana White told ESPN on Friday.
The UFC 236 pay-per-view event will take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. An interim middleweight title fight between Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya will serve as the co-main event.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0), the UFC's undefeated lightweight champion, is currently serving a nine-month suspension for his role in a postfight brawl at UFC 229 in October. Nurmagomedov could have been eligible by April 13 had he filmed an anti-bullying message in Nevada, but he has stated he does not intend to return until this fall.
The UFC has opted to create an interim 155-pound title in his absence. According to sources, the UFC also discussed a bout between Holloway and former interim champion Tony Ferguson, but ultimately landed on the Holloway-Poirier matchup.
Holloway (20-3) will hang on to his 145-pound title in the move. The Hawaiian champion is riding a 13-fight win streak, and is the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to ESPN.
Holloway-Poirier set to headline UFC 236
Remember, Dustin holds a sub victory over Max...
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