Former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will move up to light heavyweight to fight Jan Błachowicz at UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas, multiple sources tell ESPN.
Rockhold, also the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, most recently fought for the interim UFC middleweight title against Yoel Romero in February 2018, losing by third-round KO. He has said in recent months that he was open to a move up to light heavyweight due to a strenuous weight cut.
Rockhold (16-4) claimed the UFC belt in 2015 by defeating Chris Weidman by fourth-round TKO. He lost it six months later when he was knocked out by Michael Bisping in the first round.
Błachowicz (23-8) has won four of his last five fights. The Poland native will look to rebound from a third-round TKO loss to rising contender Thiago Santos in February.