Fresh off three consecutive "Fight of the Night" performances, Edson Barboza (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) now meets fellow lightweight contender Evan Dunham (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at May's UFC 146 card.
UFC president Dana White today announced the fight.
UFC 146 takes place May 26 in Las Vegas, likely at MGM Grand Garden Arena with a heavyweight headliner between champion Junior Dos Santos and top contender Alistair Overeem.
The main card is expected to air on pay-per-view, and FX likely will carry the prelims. Dunahm vs. Barboza likely will get a main-card spot.
Barboza, a Brazilian now fighting out of Florida, returns to the cage for the first time since his spectacular spinning-wheel-kick KO of Terry Etim at UFC 142. The 26-year-old former Ring of Combat champion is now 4-0 in the UFC with wins over Anthony Njokuani and Ross Pearson (both via decision in "Fight of the Night" performances) and Mike Lullo (TKO via leg kicks).
Dunham looks to continue his recent success following high-profile back-to-back losses. After winning his first four UFC fights and climbing into title contention, the Las Vegas-based fighter suffered a close split-decision defeat to ex-champ Sean Sherk and a TKO loss to Melvin Guillard. The 30-year-old has regrouped since then, though, and looks for his third straight victory following a decision win over Shamar Bailey and a TKO (due to a cut) over Nik Lentz at UFC on FOX 2.
Source: Evan Dunham vs. Edson Barboza added to UFC 146 in Las Vegas