The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale card is starting to take shape.
The UFC announced via its UFC Minute that a bout between featherweights Jeremy Stephens and Charles Oliveira has been booked as the co-main event on Dec. 12 at the Palms. The main event will of course feature the two finalists from TUF 20, who will square off to anoint a the promotion’s first-ever strawweight champion.
The 24-year old Brazilian Oliveira has won two straight fights, but had to withdraw from his Sept. 5 rematch against Nik Lentz at the eleventh hour after missing weight and falling ill on fight night. Previously he scored victories over Andy Ogle and Hatsu Hioki, finishing both via submission. Of his six victories in the UFC, all have been finishes. He is 6-4-(1) in his UFC career.
Stephens, meanwhile, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night 44 in June. The longtime lightweight Stephens had gone 3-0 as a featherweight before the setback in San Antonio. “Lil’ Heathen” has a 10-9 overall record in the UFC, with notable victories over Rafael dos Anjos, Sam Stout and Darren Elkins.