It is now official! Two UFC interim titles will be up for grabs when the octagon invades Atlanta on April 13 for the promotions UFC 236 event.
In the main event of the evening, current UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will move up to 155-pounds to take on Dustin Poirier for the promotions interim lightweight title.
This will mark the second time that Holloway and Poirier have squared off in the UFC. The pair first met in 2012 with “The Diamond” emerging victorious by way of submission.
Most recently Max Holloway has put together an ultra impressive thirteen-fight win streak. His latest victory saw him defeat Brian Ortega via TKO at December’s UFC 231 event in Toronto.
As for Dustin Poirier, the surging UFC lightweight contender was most recently seen in action at July’s UFC on FOX 30 event in Calgary, where he defeated former 155-pound kingpin Eddie Alvarez via TKO.
The promotion opted to create an interim lightweight title after it was announced that reigning division champion Khabib Nurmagomedov would be out of action until November.
In the co-main event of UFC 236, top middleweight contenders Kevlin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya will square off for the promotions interim middleweight title.
Gastelum was supposed to fight reigning middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 234, but “The Reaper” was forced out of the fight just hours prior to the event with an injury which required immediate emergency surgery.
Prior to that, Gastelum was coming off back-to-back wins over opponents Ronaldo Souza and Michael Bisping.
Meanwhile, Israel Adesanya (16-0 MM) has gone a perfect 5-0 since joining the UFC ranks in February of 2018.
In his most recent effort at UFC 234, “Stylebender” defeated former middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva via unanimous decision.
Check out the current card for April’s UFC 236 event in Atlanta below.
UFC 236 Fight Card (thus far):
Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier – interim lightweight title fight
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya – interim middleweight title fight
Eryk Anders vs. Khalil Rountree (205 lbs)
Wilson Reis vs. Alexandre Patoja (125 lbs)
Montel Jackson vs. Andre Soukhamthath (135 lbs)
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Nikita Krylov (205 lbs)
Boston Salmon vs. Khaid Taha (135 lbs)
What do you think of the current lineup for April’s UFC 236 event? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!