Bantamweights Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson (9-2) and Eddie Wineland (18-8-1) appear set to clash in the new year as part of the UFC’s second trip to FOX television, on the UFC on FOX 2 card.
MMAWeekly.com is reporting that both fighters have verbally agreed to the fight as of Monday, having learned of the bout from sources “close to the match-up.”
UFC on FOX 2 has not been officially announced and is expected to take place on January 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinios. The event is the follow up to the promotions first FOX event, UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos which took place earlier this month.
Johnson is coming off a loss as the No. 1 contender to 135 lb. champ Dominick Cruz in October. Both men headlined the UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson event in Washington, D.C. with the champ earning a unanimous decision in the bout. The loss was Johnson’s first in five bouts having earned wins over Nick Pace, Damacio Page, Norifumi Yamamoto, and Miguel Torres.
Wineland, the first WEC bantamweight champ, has yet to pick up his first win in the Octagon having dropped two straight by decision. His most recent match took place in August at the UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle event, where he lost to Joseph Benavidez. He lost his Octagon debut to Urijah Faber in March at UFC 128, by unanimous decision. That loss ended a four fight win streak.