Kiwi UFC champion Israel Adesanya will defend his middleweight crown against American Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 on July 3 (NZ time) at Las Vegas.
The Nigerian-born fighter last entered the Octagon against Aussie archrival Robert Whittaker in February, emerging with a unanimous points victory in his fourth title defence.
Cannonier, 38 - nicknamed 'The Killa Gorilla' - has a 15-win/five-defeat UFC record and was called out by the defending champion in 2020, after Adesanya knocked out Paulo Costa.
His last outing was on the undercard of Adesanya's last outing, when Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson.
A former heavyweight and light-heavyweight, he has faced many of the same opponents as his rival, losing a unanimous decision to Whittaker, but beating Kelvin Gastelum and Anderson Silva.
Cannonier also lost to Jan Blachowicz - the only man to beat Adesanya - in the heavier division five years ago.
