Jorge Masvidal has been warned he may have accepted a "career-ending" fight with Colby Covington.
The welterweight star was set to face Leon Edwards in December last year but was forced to withdraw from the bout at late notice with injury.
Now he will face a huge test against Covington who was narrowly defeated by division champion Kamaru Usman in an explosive rematch last November.
And UFC legend Chael Sonnen has warned the 37-year-old that he faces a daunting test against Covington and could have the "shine" taken off his career if he is defeated.
"In all fairness I really got to show respect to Masvidal because this is a career-ending fight," Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
"It is that big of a deal, there will be that much attention and that much focus and that much hatred going into this battle.
"Jorge, who is the second biggest draw in combat [sports] right now who's coming off of two defeats. If he goes out there and he gets taken down and he gets mauled for 25 minutes, it is going to take a lot of luster off of the shine that is the second biggest draw [in MMA], the BMF, Jorge Masvidal.
"It's a big deal and Jorge signed up anyway. God damn, I respect that."
Masvidal will be looking to halt his two-fight losing streak after being beaten by champion Usman twice last year including by a brutal stoppage in their second meeting.
His last victory came in a huge pay-per-view success against Nate Diaz and he will be looking to re-capture winning form to launch another title bid.
Meanwhile Covington fared much better in his two meetings with Usman putting up a tremendous battle in both and proving himself as the leading contender in the division.
Who will win in March- Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below
The pair used to be training partners and best friends but a new rivalry emerged as they both began their routes to challenge for the welterweight title within the same promotion.
Covington had accepted a challenge from Masvidal on social media and wanted to make the fight happen regardless of the circumstances as he looks to settle the rivalry.
"I just want to get locked in a cage with this clown. I just want to be locked in a cage with Jorge 'Street Judas' Masvidal more than I want anything in the world," Covington told Submission Radio.
"That dude needs to be for all the things he said about me, but if he doesn't show up that's ok too, he loses all that street cred and respect in the fighting community.
"He's not a real fighter, that guy's a fragile little b****. He's a clown, a fake and a Judas. He turned his back on me for no reason and this is all his fault."
"I'm definitely taking at least five years off of his life. This beef is more personal and more hatred than I've ever had for anything in my entire life."
