Rising Australian fighter Robert Whittaker will take a shot at the UFC middleweight title against No.1 contender Yoel Romero.
With title holder Michael Bisping injured long-term, Whittaker will fight American star Romero for an interim title created by the UFC.
The pair will meet at UFC 213 in Las Vegas on July 8 in the night's co-main event.
Whittaker, 26, was last month elevated three places in the rankings to No.3 after stopping Brazilian Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza, who previously held that spot, with a second-round onslaught in Kansas City.
Englishman Bisping, who last beat Dan Henderson in October 2016 to defend his title, has been slated to face former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
But that prospect won't happen until at least after November.
New Zealand-born Whittaker, nicknamed "The Reaper", has won his past seven fights for a 19-4 win-loss record.
Romero has won his last eight bouts, last accounting for former champion Chris Weidman in November.
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