UFC discussing Dillashaw vs. Barao 2, Rampage vs. Maldonado for UFC 186 in Montreal

The UFC's first card in Montreal since 2013 doesn't have a main event yet, but officials are exploring the possibility of a bantamweight championship rematch as the headliner. According to Ariel Helwani on UFC Tonight, discussions are in place for T.J. Dillashaw to defend his bantamweight belt against Renan Barao, the man he famously took it from last May. Additionally, the return of Quinton Jackson to the UFC could start off with a showdown with noted brawler Fabio Maldonado.

Dillashaw (11-2) scored a monumental upset of Barao, finishing the fight in the 5th round via TKO to become the new bantamweight champion. The two were supposed to rematch at UFC 177, but Barao hurt himself trying to cut weight, and Joe Soto rose from the preliminary card to the main event. Once again, Dillashaw was able to get the W with a 5th round TKO.

Barao (33-2, 1 NC) is coming off a 3rd round submission win over Mitch Gagnon in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night in Barueri last month. Prior to the Dillashaw defeat, the 27-year-old was unbeaten in 33 consecutive fights, including 4 championship bouts in the UFC.

Rampage (35-11) is back in the UFC after he left to join Bellator in early 2013. The former LHW champion scored wins over Joey Beltran, Christian M'Pumbu, and King Mo Lawal while in Bellator, but hasn't fought since last May. The UFC re-signed Jackson in December, but Scott Coker said that he was still under Bellator contract. Rampage's team alleges that Bellator didn't honor his contract, and thus terminated it.

Maldonado (22-7) is known for his iron chin at light heavyweight, although Stipe Miocic blasted him in a short-notice main event last year. The 34-year-old got back on the winning track with a TKO of Hans Stringer at UFC 179 in October. Maldonado has won his last 4 fights at light heavyweight, and poses virtually zero threat of taking Jackson down. In other words, if this fight gets made, Rampage gets his wish of a full-on boxing match in an MMA cage.

Again, neither of these fights is official and merely in preliminary discussions, but we'll keep you posted on confirmation of either bout being slotted for this April 25th card. One fight hat is official for UFC 186 is a welterweight bout between Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard.