Thiago Santos

UFC Halifax: Junior dos Santos vs. Stefan Struve Headlines in February

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:23 p.m. ET

Fansided, Sean Bio/FanSided via Cage Pages

UFC Halifax has its headliner in the form of a rematch, as Junior dos Santos will take on Stefan Struve.

A huge opportunity for Stefan Struve (28-8) to not only climb up the rankings, but also exact revenge as he takes on Junior dos Santos (18-4) in the UFC Halifax headliner. The five-round heavyweight main event will take place at the Scotiabank Centre on February 19, two days short of the eight-year anniversary of their first fight.

The UFC made the announcement Tuesday morning.

In their first bout in 2009, dos Santos was coming off a massive upset over Fabricio Werdum, while Struve was making his promotional debut in London. It only took the Brazilian heavyweight 54 seconds to stop the seven-foot Dutch kickboxer via strikes.

Since the two have fought, dos Santos has gone 10-3, which includes a heavyweight championship. As for Struve, he surprisingly was more active since their initial bout as he has gone 12-5.

dos Santos, 32, last fought in April, when he picked Ben Rothwell apart for the unanimous decision. “Cigano” has alternated wins and losses in his last seven fights, but earned two Fight of the Night bonuses during that span.

Struve, 28, submitted Daniel Omielanczuk via second-round d’Arce Choke in his last fight in October in Manchester. “The Skyscraper” is on a two-fight winning streak and has won three of his last four fights.

Elias Theodorou vs. Cezar Ferreira, Thiago Santos vs. Jack Marshman, and Alessandro Ricci vs. Alvaro Herrera will also take place.

February’s event will be the second time the will land in Halifax. It will also be the 23rd time an event will be held in Canada.