Tarec Saffiedine (right) (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Rory MacDonald and Tarec Saffiedine expressed an interest in fighting each other not long ago, and the UFC was clearly on board with the idea.

The two have been booked to fight in the UFC Fight Night 54 headliner, which will be hosted by the Halifax Metro Centre on October 4th. The card will mark the first time the promotion has held an event in the Nova Scotia city.

MacDonald (17-2) is coming off a clear cut, unanimous decision win over Tyron Woodley in June, after decisioning Demian Maia in February. The only man to defeat the welterweight in his last five fights is Robbie Lawler.

Saffiedine (15-3) hasn’t fought since January when he decisioned Hyun Gyu Lim in his UFC debut. Due to a series of injuries, the former Strikeforce champ has fought only twice since August, 2012.

MacDonald is currently ranked #2 in the UFC’s 170 pound division and Saffiedine is positioned at #10.