Weidman x Rockhold will be the co-main fight of UFC 194

Weidman (left) and Rockhold (right) duel for the middleweight title in December. Photo: Reproduction/FOXSports1

Once again, the Ultimate organization is betting big on the rivalry between Conor McGregor e José Aldo and puts a title fight in a heavier category in the background before the duel that will result in the unification of the featherweight titles. On Thursday night (13), it was announced that the duel between the middleweight champion Chris Weidman and the challenger Luke Rockhold will be the co-main fight of UFC 194.

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The information was announced in the newspaper “Sportscenter”, on the North American channel “ESPN”. The fight between Weidman and Rockhold will mark the undefeated middleweight champion's first title fight against a non-Brazilian opponent. To date, Weidman has already faced Anderson Silva (twice), Lyoto Machida e Vitor belfort.

Ultimate's priority for Aldo and McGregor had already been demonstrated at UFC 189, in July this year, when the two were originally going to face each other and the fight would close the card that also featured a welterweight title fight between Robbie Lawler e Rory McDonald. Even with Aldo's departure, the organization maintained the schedule and prioritized the fight for the interim belt between McGregor and Chad Mendes.

At 31, Chris Weidman has a professional record of 13 wins and no losses. The former champion of the extinct Strikeforce Luke Rockhold has a record of 14 wins and two losses. In his last fight, Rockhold beat the Brazilian Lyoto Machida and qualified for the middleweight title fight.

UFC 194 takes place on December 12th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas (USA). The main fight of the last pay-per-view of the year 2015 in the largest MMA organization on the planet will mark the long-awaited meeting between the linear featherweight champion José Aldo and the interim title holder Conor McGregor.