Conor McGregor vs Jim Alers set for Cage Warriors on New Year’s Eve in Dublin

Cage Warriors officials have confirmed that Conor McGregor’s debut featherweight title defence will take place in his hometown of Dublin on New Year’s Eve.

McGregor (11-2-0, pictured), who captured the vacant belt by defeating Dave Hill at Cage Warriors 47: Dublin in June, will take on Jim Alers at Cage Warriors 51 at The Helix in the Irish capital on December 31.

The pair were originally scheduled to clash earlier this month at CWFC Fight Night 7: Amman, but McGregor was forced to withdraw from the bout after sustaining a facial injury.

The CWFC featherweight champion underwent surgery on the injury recently and will now defend the belt for the first time as Cage Warriors brings down the curtain on a hectic 2012 with what’s guaranteed to be another unmissable event.

Since suffering a loss to ex-TUF lightweight Joseph Duffy on his Cage Warriors debut in November 2010, 23-year-old McGregor has embarked on a seven-fight win streak to catapult himself into the upper echelons of the European featherweight rankings.

Alers (9-1-0) picked up his fourth Cage Warriors victory in as many fights at CWFC Fight Night 7 on September 1 against Marcio Cesar, who stepped in as a late replacement following McGregor’s withdrawal.

The 25-year-old Florida native, who has won on each of his last five outings, also disposed of top-ten-ranked European featherweight Matteus Lahdesmaki by second-round TKO at CWFC Fight Night 6: Bahrain back in May.

McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) and Alers (@fightJim) have become embroiled in a war of words on Twitter recently, as tensions rise ahead of what’s set to be an explosive bout.

Credit to Cage Warriors/Dolly Clew