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Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis for interim title now slated for UFC 206 main event

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

And just like that, UFC 206 has a new main event.

Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis for the interim featherweight title is the new headlining act for the Dec. 10 card, MMA Fighting has learned. The fight replaces Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson, which was scrapped after Cormier withdrew from the fight due to an injury.

The UFC tried to book Johnson vs. Gegard Mousasi, however, Johnson has decided to wait for Cormier to return to action, sources say.

As a result, Jose Aldo, who was the interim featherweight champion, will likely become the new 145-pound champion, which also means that Conor McGregor is expected to be stripped of the featherweight title. He remains the lightweight champion.

McGregor hasn't necessarily agreed to give up his title, but legally the UFC is within its rights to strip him if they choose to. He won the belt by knocking out Aldo in 13 seconds less than 12 months ago at UFC 194. Aldo won the interim title in July after defeating Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision at UFC 200.

Holloway (16-3) has won his last nine fights in a row, while Pettis (19-5) recently snapped a three-fight losing streak by winning his featherweight debut against Charles Oliveira in August.

The event will take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

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