Sources: UFC 197 to feature McGregor-dos Anjos, Holm-Tate

ByBRETT OKAMOTO
January 7, 2016, 11:18 PM

— -- Two blockbuster title fights will headline a UFC 197 pay-per-view event March 5 in Las Vegas, according to sources.

Newly crowned featherweight champion Conor McGregor (19-2) will move up in weight and challenge lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos for the 155-pound championship. In the co-main event, female bantamweight champion Holly Holm will undertake her first title defense against Miesha Tate (17-5).

Bleacher Report first reported the matchups Thursday. Multiple sources have confirmed the bouts to ESPN.

The UFC has not announced either title fight, and sources say bout agreements have not yet been signed.

UFC 197 will take place at either Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena or Mandalay Bay Events Center, sources said.

McGregor (19-2) is coming off a 13-second knockout win over  Jose Aldo for the 145-pound title at UFC 194 on Dec. 12. It set a promotional record for fastest finish in title-fight history. Fighting out of SBG Ireland in Dublin, McGregor is 7-0 in the UFC and will look to become just the third fighter ever to win UFC titles in multiple weight classes. Randy Couture and BJ Penn are the others.

Dos Anjos (25-7) also is coming off a first-round knockout in December. He recorded his first defense in a 66-second TKO against Donald Cerrone on Dec. 19 in Orlando, Florida.

Holm, 34, will compete under the new terms of a contract extension she signed with the UFC last weekend. A former boxing world champion, Holm upset Ronda Rousey for the 135-pound female title at UFC 193 in November. Holm won the bout via knockout in the second round with a left head kick.

She is expected to fight Rousey again at some point, but Rousey, 28, has not yet announced when she will return to the Octagon. She did indicate to ESPN late last year that she was interested in the rematch.

A former titleholder in Strikeforce, Tate (17-5) will carry a four-fight winning streak into the five-round championship. Currently training out of Las Vegas, Tate was promised a title shot against Rousey last summer, but the UFC decided to book a fight between Holm and Rousey instead. Tate hasn't fought since a decision win against Jessica Eye in July.