Report: Makhachev-Oliveira 2 being planned for UFC 297 main event
The current plan is for UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev to defend his title in a rematch with Charles Oliveira in the headliner of UFC 297, reports MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.
The pay-per-view event is expected to take place Jan. 20 in Toronto.
Additionally, a featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria is reportedly being planned for the UFC's February pay-per-view card.
The promotion initially targeted Volkanovski-Topuria for UFC 297. But then Volkanovski accepted a short-notice fight against Makhachev at UFC 294 in October. Makhachev beat Volkanovski by a vicious first-round knockout, jeopardizing the featherweight champ's ability to defend his belt three months later.
Makhachev-Oliveira 2 was the original main event for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Oliveira pulled out 11 days before the show after suffering a cut in injury.
Makhachev, the No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound male fighter in the UFC, has won 13 straight fights. He won the 155-pound title by beating Oliveira via second-round TKO in October 2022. Makhachev has defended it twice - both times against Volkanovski, first by unanimous decision in February and then by finish last month. Oliveira, a former lightweight champ, earned a chance to regain the title by stopping Beneil Dariush in May.
Volkanovski is the UFC's longest-reigning active champion, having defended the 145-pound title five times since winning it in December 2019. Volkanovski's most recent title defense was a TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez in July. Topuria, one of the most promising contenders at 145 pounds, is coming off a decision win over Josh Emmett in June.
As reported Friday, UFC 297 will also feature Raquel Pennington versus Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant women's bantamweight belt.