IT'S ON. UFC featherweight king Alex Volkanovski will defend his crown in a rematch with former long-reigning champ Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi next month.
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South Coast's fighting pride claimed the featherweight strap with a unanimous decision victory after five dominant rounds against the Hawaiian in December last year.
It ended a six-year 14 fight win streak at featherweight for Holloway, whose previous exploits were expected to earn him an immediate rematch.
The fight was tipped to take place in Perth on June 6 before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the postponement of the UFC 251 card.
It will now take place on the promotion's groundbreaking 'Fight Island' in the UAE, co-headlining the card with a welterweight title bout between champion Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns.
Volkanovski, a former Warilla-Lake South Gorilla, suffered a broken hand in the pair's first bout but, six months on, is fully recovered and ready to put the belt on the line.
Former featherweight champion, and Volkanovski victim, Jose Aldo will also fight Russian star Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight title.
UFC president Dana White said taking the card, one of four events on Yas Island, was an innovative solution given the global restrictions still in place due to COVID-19.
"We came up with the idea of having fights on 'Fight Island' because we needed a destination to hold international events during the global pandemic," White said.
"The infrastructure we are building will be such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the fighters that's never been done before - from the arena, the private training facility, and the Octagon on the island - it's going to be an experience that none of us will ever forget."