The UFC 206 fight card leaves much to be desired in terms of star power but a dynamic featherweight matchup has given it a jolt.
Former UFC lightweight champion and No. 6-ranked featherweight contender Anthony Pettis is set to take on No. 3-ranked Max Holloway on Dec. 10 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the UFC announced Wednesday.
Pettis (19–5) made a successful 145-pound debut against Charles Oliveira at a UFC Fight Night event in Vancouver in August, snapping a three-fight losing streak. It was his first victory since submitting Gilbert Melendez nearly two years ago.
Holloway (16-3) is currently riding a nine-fight winning streak, which is the longest streak in UFC history without that fighter earning a title shot. It’s also the third longest active streak in the UFC — Jon Jones has won 13 straight while Demetrious Johnson is on a 10-fight run. The 24-year-old Hawaiian holds notable wins over ranked contenders Ricardo Lamas, Jeremy Stephens and Cub Swanson among others and hasn’t lost since a 2013 decision to Conor McGregor.
The UFC’s featherweight title picture is muddled at the moment. Champion McGregor has yet to defend his belt after knocking Jose Aldo out last December and he’s currently preparing for a lightweight title fight against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. Plus, interim champion Aldo said recently that he is done fighting. It’s a division without a champion even though technically there are two of them. The winner of Pettis-Holloway could very well find themselves fighting for a title (lineal, vacant or interim) in the near future.
The UFC also announced Canadian bantaweight Mitch Gagnon will return following a near two-year layoff to fight Matthew Lopez.
Here is a look at the UFC 206 fight card to date:
— Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson
— Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis
— Nikita Krylov vs. Misha Cirkunov
— Cub Swanson vs. Doo Ho Choi
— Zach Makovsky vs. John Moraga
— John Makdessi vs. Lando Vannata
— Valerie Letourneau vs. Poliana Botelho
— Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Drew Dober
— Jason Saggo vs. Rustam Khabilov
— Chad Laprise vs. Li Jingliang
— Mitch Gagnon vs. Matthew Lopez
