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Conor McGregor v Rafael dos Anjos confirmed for March 5th

Irish star returns to Las Vegas in bid add UFC lightweight title to featherweight crown

Conor McGregor will fight Rafael dos Anjos from Brazil in Las Vegas on March 5th in a bid to win the UFC lightweight title. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Conor McGregor will fight Rafael dos Anjos from Brazil in Las Vegas on March 5th in a bid to win the UFC lightweight title. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Getty Images
Tue Jan 12 2016 - 21:48

Conor McGregor's attempt to become a two-weight UFC champion has been confirmed for Saturday March 5th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Dubliner will face UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos from Brazil as the main event of UFC 197. The card will also feature UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm, who takes on Miesha Tate.

McGregor aims to become just the third fighter to win UFC titles at two weight divisions following his stunning 13-second win over Brazilian Jose Aldo at the same venue on December 12th as he claimed the featherweight title.

McGregor has had to work hard to make the featherweight cut off of 66kg in previous fights, with the lightweight limit going up to 70kg.

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Dos Anjos, 31, has held the lightweight title since last March, when he beat American Anthony Pettis in Milwaukee before defending his belt against another American, Donald Cerrone, on December 19th in Orlando.

McGregor would join BJ Penn and Randy Couture as the only fighters in UFC history to win belts in two divisions. He would be the first to hold two titles simultaneously.