Faced with criticism that its events are watered down, the UFC continues piling on to an already stacked event at UFC 155, announcing the additions of two bouts with top ranked featherweights and bantamweights to the year-end show.
Erik Koch was at one time set to take on Jose Aldo for the 145-pound belt. Instead, an injury scrapped the match, and now it appears that he will have to win at least one more time to capture another chance at gold. Instead of facing Aldo, he’ll put his four-fight win streak on the line against Ricardo Lamas.
The 24-year-old Koch (13-1) hasn’t fought since last September’s defeat of Jonathan Brookins. He’ll attempt to regain his momentum against Lamas, who has won six of his last seven.
The surging Lamas (12-2) is coming off a pair of significant victories, with an arm triangle submission win over Cub Swanson and a decision win over Hatsu Hioki.
The winner could step into the No. 1 contender slot, though the UFC has not confirmed that.
Meanwhile, the bantamweight division will see Brad Pickett and Eddie Wineland meet up on the same night.
Pickett (22-6) comes off back-to-back finishes of Damacio Page and Yves Jabouin while Wineland (19-8-1) scored a knockout of Scott Jorgensen in his last bout.
The Dec. 29 card continues to take shape but already boasts a UFC heavyweight championship main event between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, a middleweight contenders bout pitting rising star Chris Weidman against Tim Boetsch, Phil Davis against Forrest Griffin, Gray Maynard vs. Joe Lauzon and Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami.
The event will take place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.