A potential title eliminator in the bantamweight division has been added to UFC 207 as former UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw takes on John Lineker. Brett Okamoto of ESPN was the first to break the story.
#1-ranked Dillashaw (13-3-0) is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion, who defended the belt twice before losing it to Dominick Cruz at UFC Fight Night 81. Dillashaw has won a single fight since losing the championship, as he defeated Raphael Assuncao by unanimous decision at UFC 200. Dillashaw also made it to the finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 14, but he lost to John Dodson.
#2-ranked Lineker (29-7-0) will be entering the fight riding a six fight winning streak, defeating Alptekin Ozkilic, Ian McCall, Francisco Rivera, Rob Font, Michael McDonald and John Dodson. Lineker is also coming off of her first main event appearance for the UFC, he headlined UFC Fight Night 96 and defeated John Dodson in that main event. Lineker is the current UFC record holder for missing weight more than any other fighter in the promotions history, he has failed to make weight for five UFC bouts in four-plus years.
Dillashaw had been angling for a re-match with champion Cruz, even offering to put his fight purse at stake. Ultimately that bout went to Dillashaw's former Team Alpha Male teammate Cody Garbrandt, which is also on UFC 207
UFC 207 is taking place on Friday, December 30th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey headlining.
