With UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor set to box Floyd Mayweather later this month, the top of the 155 pound division has been at a stand-still, until now.
UFC are planning an interim title fight for #2-ranked Tony Ferguson and #7 Kevin Lee. The bout is being targeted for UFC 216 in Las Vegas on October 7. UFC President Dana White revealed the news to reporters (first reported by Heidi Fang) following this week's edition of "Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series."
"I'm ready for Conor McGregor to get back to MMA," White laughed, before confirming the news.
Ferguson was originally scheduled to take on #1 Khabib Nurmagomedov earlier this year at UFC 209. Weight cut issues forced hospitalization. Khabib would withdraw from the fight. According to Dana White, despite saying he wanted to fight at Madison Square Garden in November, the Russian Khabib is hurt.
"(Khabib's) not ready. He had surgery and he's not ready," explained White.
Lee is riding a five-fight winning streak, which indcludes a Performance of the Night in a controversial victory over Michael Chiesa this past June. Lee has won nine of his last ten UFC fights.
Ferguson has been on one of UFC's all-time hot streaks. The 33-year old has won nine consecutive fights, and is 12-1 in the UFC. Signature wins include Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza and Josh Thomson.
UFC 216 is set for October 7 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
