As expected, UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos (14-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will make his first title defense on May 26 in Las Vegas.
UFC officials today revealed the long-rumored booking, which sees Dos Santos face former Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem (36-11 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who earned the shot with a recent win over former UFC champ Brock Lesnar.
The fight headlines UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Ticket information is expected to be revealed shortly, but UFC officials announced they will go on sale later this month.
Overeem, a former Strikeforce champion who was released by the organization and quickly signed by its sister promotion, made his official UFC debut at UFC 141 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. By knocking out ex-champ Lesnar (for his 11th straight win), he set up the upcoming heavyweight title fight with current champ Dos Santos, who was healing from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Dos Santos fights for the first time since winning the title with a first-round knockout of Cain Velasquez this past November. He'd been sidelined by a torn meniscus in his left knee but has since said he's recovered 100 percent.
Dos Santos is undefeated in the UFC and currently boasts a nine-fight win streak.
The full lineup for UFC 146 currently includes:
Champ Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem (for heavyweight title)
Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham
Dan Hardy vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig
Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins
C.B. Dollaway vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Shane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira
Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann
