Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway rematch set for UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi

After months of speculation, the rematch between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former titleholder Max Holloway is a done deal.

Volkanovski (21-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) vs. Holloway (21-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) is set for UFC 251 on July 11 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UFC president Dana White announced Tuesday on ESPN’s “First Take.” Yas Island was revealed as the UFC’s “Fight Island” location.

At UFC 245 last December, Volkanovksi became the first fighter to defeat then-champion Max Holloway in a featherweight fight since Conor McGregor in August 2013. Over the course of five rounds, Volkanovski out-pointed and controlled Holloway en route to becoming the second Australiasian champion in UFC history.

Volkanovski, 31, is undefeated in his UFC tenure, beating Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins among others, en route to the title-clinching performance against Holloway.

Holloway, 28, hadn’t lost at featherweight in 14 fights before he was dethroned by Volkanovski. Holloway had successfully defended the title three times against Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, and Jose Aldo – prior to coming up short in his fourth attempt.

With the addition, the current UFC 251 lineup includes:

Champ Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns – for welterweight title
Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
Jose Aldo vs. Petr Yan – for vacant bantamweight title
Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Ciryl Gane
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka