Melendez to make 145-lb debut vs. Stephens at UFC 215
Gilbert Melendez will end his 13-month layoff north of the border.
"El Nino" is set to make his UFC featherweight debut against Jeremy Stephens on Sept. 9 at UFC 215 in Edmonton, Alberta, the promotion announced Thursday.
The 35-year-old Melendez is making the move down from lightweight in pursuit of his first win since October 2013. The former Strikeforce champion and two-time title challenger has lost three straight and four of his last five, his most recent defeat coming courtesy of Edson Barboza at UFC on FOX 20 last August.
Stephens will look to end a skid of his own on the promotion's first trip to Edmonton, having dropped back-to-back decisions to Frankie Edgar and Renato Moicano. "Lil' Heathen" still sits in the eighth spot of the UFC's featherweight rankings, and holds a promotional record of 12-13.
The September card is as of yet without a headlining bout.