According to reports, the UFC is targeting a welterweight matchup between former title contender Rory MacDonald and striking specialist Stephen Thompson for a future event in 2016. Ariel Helwani first reported the news on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight.

MacDonald (18-3), a Tristar product, will be looking to get back into the win column after suffering fifth round knockout at the hands of reigning champion Robbie Lawler in their thrilling UFC 189 title fight. Both men garnered critical acclaim for their performance, earning a Fight of the Night bonus in the process, while finding themselves on the shortlist for Fight of the Year.

Prior to this setback, “The Red King” earned a violent third round knockout over former Strikeforce champion Tarec Saffiedine last October. MacDonald will enter this contest 13 career stoppage wins, including seven by way of (T)KO.

Thompson (12-1), a multiple time kickboxing champion, is coming off the biggest win of his career in the former of a blistering first round TKO over former champion Johny Hendricks this past Saturday. This not only extended his win streak to six straight but marked his seventh career knockout victory and fourth under the UFC banner.

There is currently no word or where or when this welterweight clash will take place.

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José began his career as a mixed martial arts journalist while still enrolled at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. Since graduating in May 2013, he has attended dozens of high profile UFC fight cards as a credentialed member of the media, providing live cage side coverage through his articles and videos. His work has appeared on UFC.com, ArizonaSports.com and AZCentral. He is also currently one of the main contributors on Power MMA Show at Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, one of the first all MMA radio shows on a major radio station.