Multiple sources close to the situation confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Saturday with bout agreements issued and signed for the new fight. ESPN initially reported the news.
The new main event came together after Kevin Holland was pulled from the fight against Hermansson after he tested positive for COVID-19.
As for Vettori, he was originally scheduled to face Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC 256 on Dec. 12, but now he’ll fight one week earlier in a main event against a top-five ranked opponent. There’s no word if “Jacare” will still fight at UFC 256 against a new opponent or not.
The Italian middleweight has won his past three fights in a row including a convincing TKO against Karl Robertson in his most recent outing.
Meanwhile, Hermansson will be preparing for his third different opponent after accepting the main event date on Dec. 5.
He was originally scheduled to face former UFC title contender Darren Till but he was forced out of the fight due to injury. Holland replaced Till but then got pulled due to his positive test for the coronavirus.
Now, Hermansson will face Vettori in a battle of top 15 middleweights as the new headliner for UFC Vegas 16.
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