White confirms Holloway vs. Ortega as UFC 226 co-headliner

Max Holloway will defend his featherweight title against Brian Ortega at the upcoming UFC 226 PPV. Max Holloway’s wish to return to the Octagon in July has been granted, as the reigning featherweight kingpin will defend his title against b…

Max Holloway will defend his featherweight title against Brian Ortega at the upcoming UFC 226 PPV.

Max Holloway’s wish to return to the Octagon in July has been granted, as the reigning featherweight kingpin will defend his title against breakout contender Brian Ortega in the co-main event of UFC 226.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the matchup to multiple outlets on Friday.

The pay-per-view will be headlined by a heavyweight superfight between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Cormier, the reigning light heavyweight champion, will look to add a second UFC belt to his collection and permanently etch his name into the history books by dethroning Miocic. Miocic captured the UFC heavyweight title in 2016 and has gone in to defend it a record-breaking three times, finishing all but one of his opponents via knockout.

As for Holloway, ‘Blessed’ will look to extend his win streak to 12 and defend his 145-pound title for the second time of his career. The Hawaiian standout beat former pound-for-pound No. 1 Jose Aldo in back to back championship bouts last year and is considered one of the most well-rounded and talented fighters on the UFC roster.

His opponent, Ortega, established himself as the clear-cut No. 1 featherweight contender after his first-round demolition of ex-lightweight champ Frankie Edgar at UFC 222. The 27-year-old talent made his MMA debut in 2010 and is undefeated after 14 professional fights. Ortega did, however, have his win over Mike De La Torre overturned to a No Contest after he tested positive for Drostanolone in 2014. ‘T-City’ was subsequently suspended for nine months and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

UFC 226, which features the featherweight championship bout between Holloway and Ortega in the co-main event, takes place on July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Check out the updated card below, per Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie.