UFC Vegas 31’s new headliner is Islam Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises after the postponement of a featherweight headliner between ex-champ Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez. The bout will be contested over five rounds.
The news was confirmed to MMA Fighting by multiple people with knowledge of the shift after an initial report from MMA Junkie. UFC Vegas 31 takes place July 17 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN+.
With Holloway’s withdrawal due to injury, featherweight standout Giga Chigadze said he was offered a chance to fight Rodriguez, but he said Rodriguez declined the bout. The new date for Holloway for Rodriguez has not been announced.
UFC Vegas 31 is co-headlined by a bantamweight bout between ex-champ Miesha Tate and Marion Reneau. Tate is returning from retirement while Reneau is fighting what she’s billed as her retirement fight.
Islam Makhachev, a protege of former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, makes his return four months after a dominant decision over Drew Dober at UFC 259, which marked his seventh straight win in the lightweight division.
Thiago Moises has won three straight with his most recent win coming in February with a decision over Alexander Hernandez.