Josh Koscheck's middleweight plans will have to wait.
UFC president Dana White today announced that Koscheck (17-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) will meet Johny Hendricks (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) at May's UFC on FOX 3 event in a key welterweight affair.
UFC on FOX 3 takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The main card, including a Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz headliner, airs on FOX, and prelims are expected to air on FUEL TV.
White did not announce the fight's positioning on the card, but it seems likely to serve as the evening's co-main event.
Koscheck returns after narrowly edging Mike Pierce at this past weekend's UFC 143 event via split decision. Koscheck, who recently split from his longtime home at American Kickboxing Academy, admitted he didn't take the fight as serious as past encounters but will now compete in a contest that has real title implications.
Meanwhile, Hendricks fights for the first time since earning a stunning 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch at December's UFC 141 event. The once-beaten former collegiate wrestling stud now boasts a three-fight win streak and is 7-1 in eight octagon contests.
With the addition to the fight card, UFC on FOX 3 now includes:
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
Source: Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck added to UFC on FOX 3
