Dan Cormier will face WWE superstar Brock Lesnar at New York's Madison Square Garden, after the American secured the heavyweight title with a knockout win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.
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Cormier's first-round finish of his compatriot made him a two-division champion, adding the heavyweight strap to the light heavyweight title he already owned.
After a high-paced start to the contest from both fighters, the 39-year-old former Olympian caught Miocic with a heavy right hook as he broke from a clinch, instantly crumpling his opponent and forcing a referee stoppage.
It was a moment almost overshadowed by the presence of Lesnar, who made a head-turning entrance to take a seat Octagon-side just as the fight was set to start.
Cormier took to the microphone immediately following the fight and after some brief celebrations, launched into a pre-wrestling promo, during which he called Lesnar into the cage.
The former UFC heavyweight champion obliged, entering with a shove on the new champ, and the two exchanged barbs, before Lesnar unloaded on all the "piece of sh*t" fighters in the division.
He ended his rant by smashing the mic against the camera lens, sending the cameraman tumbling backwards.
"Push me now, you'll go to sleep later," DC responded, before mounting the Octagon and holding both of his belts aloft.
While UFC president Dana White wouldn't confirm any details at the post-fight press conference, several sources claim it will take place at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York.
It was a suitably bizarre ending to proceedings, after a co-main event between Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis left many shaking their heads.
The highly-anticipated bout between two renowned sluggers fizzled to one of the most limp decision wins in the promotion's history. At one stage, it was on track to set the record for fewest strikes thrown (23) and even Lewis was embarassed, as he had his hand raised to a chorus of boos.
In fairness to 'The Black Beast', he was reportedly suffering severe back spasms from the opening bell. In Ngannou's case, it may just be a long-term after-effect of the reality check he was dealt by Miocic to derail his steamrolling hype train in January.
In earlier results, former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis impressed with a slick triangle-choke finish of Michael Chiesa, while Mike Perry slugged his way to a unanimous decision win over Paul Felder.
On the preliminary card, New Zealand's Dan Hooker shone with a clinical first-round knockout of Brazilian Gilbert Burns.
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