After getting back in the win column just a week ago, former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker already has his next assignment. He’s been paired up with Jared Cannonier, a fight that was originally supposed to take place back in March, until Whittaker dropped out of the bout. They will now meet at UFC 254.
ESPN was first to report the news that the fight was back on.
UFC 254 is expceted to take place October 24. The PPV event has not been officially announced, nor does it have a location. Las Vegas and Yas Island, Abu Dhabi are likely in the running however.
Whittaker (21-5), who won The Ultimate Fighter: Smashes in 2012 at welterweight, has been one of the most dominant middleweights since moving to the division in 2014. His pair of fights with Yoel Romero became instant classics. However, after those wars, he fell to Israel Adesanya last year, and did not fight again til he picked up a win over Darren Till at UFC Fight Island 3.
Cannonier himself has not fought since September. The former light heavyweight is 3-0 since moving to the UFC’s middleweight division. His most recent victory was his most impressive, however, as he earned a quick TKO of Jack Hermansson at UFC Copenhagen. Overall, the American is 13-4 as a pro.
UFC 254 is expected to be headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout. Gaethje won the interim title by defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 earlier this year.
