Former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is set to make his featherweight debut in the UFC.
Melendez’s first UFC fight at 145 pounds will be against featherweight contender Jeremy Stephens.
Melendez leaves the lightweight division currently ranked No. 13 in the official UFC lightweight rankings. However, he will have the opportunity to make a big impact at featherweight when he fights Stephens, who is currently ranked No. 8 in the featherweight rankings.
Melendez is currently on a three-fight losing streak. It has been a year since he has last fought in the UFC. He is coming off a decision loss to lightweight contender Edson Barboza. His losing streak also features losses to former champions Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis.
Stephens is currently on a two-fight losing streak. He is coming off a split decision loss to Renato Moicano in April. In his previous fight, he lost a decision to former UFC champion Frankie Edgar.
Melendez and Stephens will fight at UFC 215 on Sept. 9 at the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
BREAKING: @LiLHeathenMMA vs. @GilbertMelendez added to #UFC215 at Edmonton’s @RogersPlace@TSN_Sports article: https://t.co/78MzI694kw pic.twitter.com/ks95Z7hXay
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 6, 2017
Also just announced by UFC officials is a lightweight bout between Baneil Dariush and Evan Dunham set for October 7.
