UFC 233: Dillashaw vs. Cejudo, Cruz vs. Lineker Reportedly Planned

A champion vs. champion fight between bantamweight's T.J. Dillashaw and newly-crowned flyweight king Henry Cejudo is being planned for UFC 233 next year.

The news was first reported by Brazil's Combate and later confirmed by MMA Fighting sources with no initial word on which weight class it would be fought at.

ESPN later reported however it would be Dillashaw moving down in weight to challenge Cejudo for the flyweight title for a chance to become just the third simultaenous two-weight champion in the UFC.

The bout could serve as the main event of the first pay-per-view card of the year taking place Jan. 26 in Anaheim, California.

Dillashaw was initially hoping to face Demetrious Johnson in a champion vs. champion fight but it didn't come to fruition with the two eventually defending their titles on the same UFC 227 card in August.

Dillashaw would successfully defend his bantamweight title against Cody Garbrandt that night but Johnson would lose his title to Cejudo, before asking for a trade to ONE Championship.

While there is not the same amount of intrigue in a Dillashaw vs. Cejudo title fight, it is still a big fight nonetheless, even if there is uncertainty surrounding the flyweight division as of now.

With the Johnson trade, many have speculated that it will be the end of the 125-pound division, mainly due to it not being a drawing weight class.

Conor McGregor on Thursday called for ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong to sign all the flyweights who will be cut as a result of the trade.

Cejudo would respond to the former UFC lightweight champion soon after.

Meanwhile, Brazil's Globo reports that former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will make his long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 233 as well.

Cruz was initially supposed to return at UFC 219 in December last year but suffered a broken arm leading up to the event. His opponent at the time was John Lineker and the two will look to finally battle it out this time.

Cruz last fought at UFC 207 in December 2016 when he lost his title to Cody Garbrandt. Lineker is on a two-fight winning streak, having last knocked out Brian Kelleher at UFC 224 in May.

Also reported to be on the card is a first fight for Ben Askren as ESPN reports he will take on former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.

The confirmed fights for the event as of now are lightweight bouts between James Vick and Paul Felder and Francisco Trinaldo and Islam Makhachev.