It turns out that Irishman Conor McGregor is in Brazil just to see some of the sights.
On Thursday, MMA Junkie first reported that the popular featherweight was being circled to face Dennis Siver for a Fight Night in Boston, Massachusetts. On Friday, the UFC made it official — McGregor and Siver will square off in a five-round main event at the TD Garden on Jan. 18.
It will be the second headlining spot for the 26-year old McGregor, who fought Diego Brandao in his native Dublin, Ireland, this past July at UFC Fight Night 46. “Notorious” is coming off the most impressive performance of his career after scoring a TKO victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 in September. He has gone 4-0 in the UFC since debuting against Marcus Brimage in 2013.
With McGregor attending the featherweight title bout between Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro there had been speculation that he might be in line to face the winner. Instead he’ll return to Boston, where he defeated Max Holloway (decision) in August 2013 for the inaugural FOX Sports 1 event.
In the German Siver, McGregor will draw the most experienced fighter he’s yet faced in the UFC. Siver, who debuted at UFC 70 in 2007, is 11-6-1 in the UFC overall and has won seven of his last ten fights. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Charles Rosa at UFC FIght Night 53 in Stockholm, Sweden.
UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver will air on FOX Sports 1.