UFC: Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee to fight for interim lightweight title

Bengaluru, August 16: UFC President Dana White said on Tuesday (Augut 15) that the interim UFC lightweight title match will be contested between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee.

However, White did not confirm a date for the bout, but he did mention UFC 216 in October as a possibility.

Conor McGregor is the current holder of the lightweight title, but has not fought in the UFC since winning the belt last November, when he defeated Eddie Alvarez via a knock out.

McGregor will not return to the UFC anytime soon as he is involved in a blockbuster boxing match against the greatest in the sport, multi-time champion Floyd Mayweather. Hence, White came out with the idea of an interim title.

MccGregor, however, has stated that he will definitely return to the octagon very soon.

Ferguson was set to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the interim title at UFC 209 in March, but the fight was cancelled when the Russian lightweight was hospitalized due to sickness.

Ferguson is on a nine-fight win streak and most recently defeated Rafael dos Anjos in November 2016. He is listed as the number two lightweight contender in the UFC's official rankings, behind Nurmagomedov, who is currently unavailable to fight.

While, Lee is on a five-fight win streak, beating Michael Chiesa by technical submission in his most recent controversial victory in June. The 24-year-old currently sits seventh in the UFC's official lightweight rankings.

The latest UFC 216 card now includes:

Tony Ferguson Vs Kevin Lee (interim lightweight title)

Will Brooks Vs Nik Lentz

Bobby Green Vs Lando Vannata

Beneil Dariush Vs Evan Dunham

Thales Leites Vs Brad Tavares

Magomed Bibulatov Vs John Moraga

Marco Beltran Vs Matt Schnell

Mark Godbeer Vs Walt Harris

Jessica Eye Vs Paige VanZant