Dana White has announced Paddy Pimblett's next fight and it's against a UFC legend on a monster card in December.
'The Baddy' has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury in his controversial win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 last December.
He underwent surgery in March to repair ankle ligament damage.
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But he's set to return to action before the year's end as UFC CEO White has confirmed the lightweight star's next assignment.
Pimblett will face Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 in Las Vegas on December 16.
Speaking in a video posted on social media, White said: "Paddy is on a six-fight win streak, five of those have come by finish, and Tony Ferguson is always exciting - the former interim champion in the lightweight division."
Ferguson, 39, is on a six-fight losing streak, having lost to the likes of Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveria and Nate Diaz.
He had reeled off an impressive 12-fight winning streak before losing to Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight title back in May 2020.
As for the Liverpool fighter, he made his UFC debut in September 2021 and has registered four wins since moving to the promotion, having beaten Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas. Jordan Leavitt and Gordon.
White also announced a huge welterweight clash between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Stephen Thompson for UFC 296.
Pimblett vs. Ferguson will join UFC flyweight title fight Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval and UFC welterweight championship showdown Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington on the stacked card, with White adding: "It is going to be one of the best cards of the year."
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Topics: Paddy Pimblett, UFC, Dana White, Tony Ferguson
Nasir Jabbar