UFC 230: Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman Rematch Being Finalized, Report Says

Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman are set to lock horns again at UFC 230 in a rematch that is nearly three years in the making.

According to ESPN sources, the rematch is being finalized for the promotion's annual return to Madison Square Garden in New York for UFC 230 which takes place on Nov. 3.

The two previously fought at UFC 194 in Dec. 2015 in a back-and-forth encounter that saw Rockhold eventually come out on top after a brutal ground-and-pound fourth round finish over a bloody Weidman to win the middleweight championship.

Weidman was to have his rematch at UFC 199 in June 2016 but later had to pull out due to injury, which set forth a chain of events that would shape the current state of the middleweight division.

Michael Bisping would step in for Weidman on two weeks' notice and shock the world when he knocked out Rockhold in the first round. The Briton would then defend the 185-pound strap against Dan Henderson at UFC 204 in Oct. 2016 before being inactive for over a year as he eventually got his money fight with Georges St-Pierre.

St-Pierre would submit Bisping at UFC 217 in November last year before vacating the belt due to a case of ulcerative colitis. Robert Whittaker, who won the interim middleweight title against Yoel Romero but was injured to compete against Bisping, was then reinstated as the new undisputed champion.

As these events occurred, Rockhold and Weidman had their ups and downs. Rockhold took time away from the sport for over a year before returning in September last year to defeat David Branch.

He was then set to face Whittaker for the middleweight title at UFC 227 in February only for the Australian to pull out due to injury. Rockhold would then face Romero on short notice, initially for an interim title before the latter missed weight, and get brutally knocked out in the third round.

While Romero would get another shot at Whittaker as a result, Rockhold teased that he'd move up to the light heavyweight division but has seemingly put those plans on hold for now.

As for Weidman, he would face Romero at UFC 205 in November 2016 only to suffer another brutal knockout loss. The All-American was hoping to bounce back against Gegard Mousasi at UFC 210 in April last year but suffered another loss, albeit controversially.

Weidman, a New York native, did get back to winning ways against a rampant Kelvin Gastelum after submitting him in July last year, but has not competed since due to a long-running thumb injury.

Despite his win, the more active Gastelum would get a title shot over Weidman as he will face Whittaker next after they both coach the 28th season of "The Ultimate Fighter." The winner of the Rockhold vs. Weidman rematch would ideally be next in line to get a middleweight title shot.

UFC 230 is expected to be another stacked card for the UFC's return to Madison Square Garden but as of now, has no main event. There is a belief that Conor McGregor could return to mixed martial arts action and face lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event.

However, it all hinges on McGregor's court hearing on Thursday, while he would also need to reapply for a New York license. The only official fight on the card right now is another middleweight encounter between Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Branch.