Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao will meet Mitch Gagnon at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 20 in Sao Paulo.
UFC officials announced the 135-pound matchup Wednesday. The event will take place at Jose Correa Arena.
Barao (32-2) will look to finish the year on a high note, following one of the lowest moments of his career. The 27-year-old was scheduled to fight T.J. Dillashaw for the UFC title Aug. 30 but had to withdraw one day before after he passed out attempting to make weight. Barao, who lost the title to Dillashaw in May, missed out on his entire paycheck for the event and lost his place in line within the division.
Prior to suffering a fifth-round TKO loss to Dillashaw, Barao had won 32 consecutive fights.
Gagnon (12-2) will head to Brazil with a ton of momentum, as the Canadian is currently on a four-fight win streak. A submission specialist, Gagnon has tapped out 11 of the 14 opponents he has faced. His only loss in the UFC came by submission via rear-naked choke against Bryan Caraway in July 2012.
A nontitle middleweight bout between Lyoto Machida and C.B. Dollaway is scheduled to headline the UFC Fight Night event.
