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Report: Pettis-Holloway interim title fight in the works for UFC 206

Tim Heitman / USA TODAY Sports

The UFC is close to finalizing an interim featherweight title fight between Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway at UFC 206, according to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com.

If the fight ends up being confirmed, current interim champ Jose Aldo would become the official featherweight titleholder, while Conor McGregor would be stripped of his belt.

McGregor hasn't fought at 145 pounds since capturing the title from Aldo in a 13-second knockout at UFC 194 in December 2015.

McGregor has since added the UFC lightweight belt to his collection after defeating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, but is expected to take some time off as he and his girlfriend, Dee Devlin, await the arrival of their first child.

The UFC possesses the legal recourse to strip the 28-year-old of the featherweight title, Helwani reports.

The changes to the UFC 206 card were set in motion when light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier was forced to withdraw from his main event bout with Anthony Johnson due to injury Friday.

Holloway is riding a nine-fight winning streak, while Pettis is coming off a victory over Charles Oliveira via guillotine choke in August.

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