Home / Irish MMA / UFC confirm Rafael Dos Anjos vs Conor McGregor and Holly Holm vs Miesha Tate at UFC 197

UFC confirm Rafael Dos Anjos vs Conor McGregor and Holly Holm vs Miesha Tate at UFC 197

By on January 12, 2016

ufc197_rdaconorhollytate

It’s finally official. Conor McGregor will step up to 155lbs to challenge lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos for the strap and Holly Holm will attempt to defend her women’s bantamweight belt for the first time against Miesha Tate at UFC 197.

The news has first reported earlier this week by Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter and the UFC finally confirmed via their website moments ago.

The fights are set to take place at UFC 197 in Las Vegas on March 5th 2016.

A former two-weight Cage Warriors champion, McGregor made a huge impression with a 67-second knockout of Marcus Brimage in his UFC debut in 2013. Wins over Max Holloway, Diego Brandao, Dustin Poirier and Dennis Siver followed that before McGregor won the interim featherweight strap at UFC 189 against Chad Mendes in July last.

In December, he made that title the full version with a 13-second demolition of long-term champion Jose Aldo and boosted himself to megastar status. If he is successful against Dos Anjos, McGregor will become the UFC’s first ever two weight champion.

McGregor posted the following to his facebook page:

“OFFICIAL FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Conor McGregor Vs Rafael Dos Anjos for the UFC Lightweight World Championship.
March 5th.
MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
LIVE ON PPV.

This McGregor Inc. executive business decision is brought to you by the King himself in association with EA Sports. ‘McGregor is the Game.’

Mr. McGregor would like to thank the fans and the media for their patience in this decision.
Mr. McGregor was still busy counting the take from his last fight.

He has chosen to dedicate this demolition job to the loyal people of Brazil and all the fans around the globe who stay true to their roots and loyal to their land.

Mr. McGregor has said that Rafael is a traitor to his people and vows to “behead the ‘American Gringo’ Rafael Dos Anjos, in the name of La Brasilia!”

Viva la Brasil!

See you all in Las Vegas, March 5th!!!

The King returns!”

He also attached the following image to his facebook post:rdausa

For Rafael Dos Anjos it has been a slower, but in the end impressive, journey to the top. Entering the UFC way back in 2008 as an 11-2 prospect, RDA’s potential was quickly questioned with losses to Jeremy Stephens and Tyson Griffin in his first two Octagon displays. And even though he bounced back with three consecutive wins, more losses to Clay Guida and Gleison Tibau had many calling Dos Anjos somewhat of a career journeyman. But then it all changed.

Since that loss to Tibau in November 2011 Dos Anjos has only tasted defeat once – to Khabib Nurmagomedov – in ten fights and won the UFC title with a 5-round crushing of Anthony Pettis in March before defending his title against Donald Cerrone in December.

Also announced on the card is Holly Holm’s first defence of the bantamweight title she won from Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. The former professional boxing ace will take on veteran MMA fighter and former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate in what’s sure to be one of the biggest cards of the year.

Stay tuned to SevereMMA for more details as they break.

Podcaster, lead MMA writer and analyst for SevereMMA. Host of the SevereMMA podcast, out every Sunday. Economics and Mathematics graduate from UCC. Also write for Sherdog. Previously of hov-mma and fightbooth. As heard on 2FM, Red FM, Today FM and more. Follow me on twitter for updates @SeanSheehanBA and on Facebook Facebook.com/seansheehanmma
Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.