Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis is ready to return to competition. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports that Pettis will face Alex Morono at welterweight at UFC Fight Night 183 on December 19th at the UFC APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn has also confirmed Okamoto’s report with “multiple people close to the situation.”
Pettis will try to get his second win of the year. His last win was against Donald Cerrone by unanimous decision at UFC 249 on May 9th at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Okamoto reports that Pettis is taking the fight on short notice but has been training in Las Vegas.
Morono will have his biggest challenge to date against Pettis. He recently won a fight against Rhys McKee by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 182 on November 12th at the UFC APEX facility. Morono has won four out of his last six fights. His most notable wins are against Max Griffin and Zak Ottow.