By:  | May 11, 2022 11:09 am

The trilogy fight between Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway is official. The two featherweights will face off at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the co-main event of UFC 276.

Volkanovski has been at Bang Tao Muay Thai although it is unclear how long he is staying in Phuket for. The reigning UFC featherweight champion flew in for the grand opening and was still there last week.

The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 273 but Holloway pulled out due to injury. The Korean Zombie replaced him and was subject to a one sided beating from the Australian champion.

Volkanovski (24-1) extended his winning streak to 21 with that victory. He is currently ranked #2 on the UFC’s official pound for pound list.

Holloway (23-6) is the former UFC featherweight champion. He lost his title to Volkanovski and was controversially beaten by the Australian in a rematch but is coming off back to back wins.

Middleweight belt

The featherweight title fight does not headline the card at the T-Mobile Stadium. That honour goes to middleweight champion Israel Adesanya who is defending his crown against Jared Cannonier.

Adesanya (22-1) sits at #3 in the middleweight rankings just one spot below Volkanovski. The New Zealand based Nigerian has never lost a fight at 185lbs, the only defeat of his career came in a light heavyweight title fight.

Cannonier (22-5) started MMA late in life. The 38 year old made his pro debut in 2011 but within three years he had a UFC contract.

Cup Cake

The card will also feature former UFC bantamweight champion and fan favourite Miesha Tate (19-8). In 2021 she made a successful comeback after five years away from the octagon.

But her comeback was derailed by Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 43. Cup Cake will be looking to get back in the winning column against Lauren Murphy and is dropping down to flyweight for this fight.

Murphy (15-5) is coming off an unsuccessful flyweight title shot. She was stopped in the fourth round by Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 266.

Best of the rest

Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (29-15) will be looking to roll back the years when he takes on Bryan Barberena. The 40 year old made his UFC debut in 2002 and went on to capture the belt and successfully defend it twice.

Barberana (17-8) is not short of experience himself. He is a veteran of 14 UFC fights and is coming off back to back decision wins.

UFC 276, Las Vegas, July 2nd
Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Jared Cannonier (Middleweight)
Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Max Holloway (Featherweight)
Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira (Middleweight)
Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz (Bantamweight)
Uriah Hall vs. AndrΓ© Muniz (Middleweight)
Brad Tavares vs. Dricus du Plessis (Middleweight)
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Julija Stoliarenko (Bantamweight)
Lauren Murphy vs. Miesha Tate (Flyweight)
Jessica Eye vs. Maycee Barber (Flyweight)
Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena (Welterweight)