UFC 194 Update: Max Holloway to Lock Horns with Jeremy Stephens in Las Vegas

Tristen CritchfieldSep 03, 2015
Jeremy Stephens had a highlight-reel knockout in his last fight. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com



The UFC 194 lineup is getting more impressive by the day.

Promotion officials confirmed on Thursday that a featherweight clash between Max Holloway and Jeremy Stephens has been added to the Dec. 12 card following an initial report from Fox Sports. UFC 194 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and features a pair of title fights, as Jose Aldo faces Conor McGregor in a featherweight championship unification bout, and Chris Weidman defends his middleweight strap against Luke Rockhold.

The 23-year-old Holloway is one of the promotion’s fastest rising stars. “Blessed” has won seven straight contests, including a bizarre victory over Charles Oliveira in his most recent outing -- a bout that came to a halt when the Brazilian suffered an esophagus injury 1:38 into round one. Holloway is 10-3 in the UFC overall and owns notable wins over the likes of Cub Swanson, Cole Miller, Leonard Garcia and Justin Lawrence.

Stephens, meanwhile, halted a two-fight skid at UFC 189, where he authored a “Knockout of the Year” candidate with a jumping knee finish of Dennis Bermudez. A veteran of 21 Octagon appearances, “Lil Heathen” has bested the likes of Darren Elkins, Sam Stout, Marcus Davis and Rafael dos Anjos during his promotional tenure.