A lightweight matchup between former WEC champion Anthony Pettis (13-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and slugger Jeremy Stephens (20-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is the latest addition to this fall's UFC 136 event.
UFC officials today announced the matchup, which is expected to take place on the evening's preliminary card.
Featuring a pair of title fights in the evening's featured contests, UFC 136 takes place Oct. 8 at Houston's Toyota Center. The evening's main card airs live on pay-per-view.
Pettis takes his second crack at a first UFC win after being outwrestled by Clay Guida at June's The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale. The loss was just the second of Pettis' career and ended a four-fight win streak for "Showtime."
Pettis, of course, gained prominence with his famed "Showtime" kick off the side of the cage and into Ben Henderson's face at the WEC's final event back in December. Pettis claimed the WEC lightweight title with the win and was scheduled to meet the winner of January's UFC 125 meeting between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Gray Maynard. However, that fight ended in a draw, and the two lightweights are squaring off again at UFC 136.
Meanwhile, Stephens is currently enjoying the best octagon run of his career with four wins in his past five UFC outings.
Stephens most recently fought at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, where he handled an incredibly durable Danny Downes en route to a unanimous-decision win. Stephens also holds wins over Marcus Davis, Sam Stout and Justin Buchholz during his current run. The lone loss came in a UFC 119 split-decision defeat to Melvin Guillard.
Source: Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens added to rapidly filling UFC 136 event