Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis are set to square off for the interim featherweight title this Saturday at UFC 206. The matchup was slated as the show’s main event after an injury forced Daniel Cormier to withdraw from his 205-pound title match with Anthony Johnson.
The featherweights, fighting for the right to reign in absentee kingpin Conor McGregor’s division, arrive at the bout having taken divergent paths. Pettis just recently joined the division, winning in his debut after being chased from the lightweight class after three straight losses. Holloway, meanwhile, is looking to extend his current win streak to 10.
Presumably, the winner of the contest will earn a date with Jose Aldo, who was awarded the featherweight title in McGregor’s absence. Will it be Holloway or Pettis that earns that opportunity to fight in that unification bout?
In advance of the UFC 206 main event, Bleacher Report breaks down the matchup, examining where each fighter holds an edge, and which one is likely to emerge the challenger to take on Aldo.