Former WEC bantamweight champ Brian Bowles (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) did not get the UFC title shot he had hoped for, but he did get a fight that will certainly leave him a No. 1 contender with a win.
UFC officials announced late Thursday night that Bowles will next face former WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber (25-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC 139.
Although not officially announced, UFC 139 is expected to take place Nov. 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The event is expected to feature a heavyweight title fight between champ Cain Velasquez and top contender Junior Dos Santos.
Bowles vs. Cruz is expected to feature on the evening's main card.
"Before a possible trilogy can be considered between Urijah Faber and his rival, champion Dominick Cruz, he will take on one of the division's truly elite fighters, former bantamweight champion Brian Bowles," UFC president Dana White stated. "A win over Faber would be massive for Bowles' bid to challenge for the belt that was once his. The stakes are high and the fight will be intense."
Bowles earned the WEC's 135-pound title with a shocking knockout of then-champ Miguel Torres at 2009's WEC 42 event. However, in his first attempt to defend the title, Bowles surrendered his belt to Cruz. It was Bowles' final WEC appearance after lingering injuries left him sidelined for nearly one year. However, he's since bounced back with UFC victories over Takeya Mizugaki and Damacio Page.
Faber, the longtime poster boy of the WEC, was narrowly edged out via decision by Cruz at July's UFC 132 event. Some fans called for an immediate rematch and the completion of a trilogy that began in March 2007. However, Faber will instead get his second crack at a first win in the UFC's octagon.
Source: Brian Bowles draws Urijah Faber at November's UFC 139 event