Lightweight contenders Gray Maynard and TJ Grant have agreed to meet May 25 at UFC 160 in Las Vegas. UFC officials announced the bout Wednesday night.
Maynard makes his first appearance inside the Octagon since June 2012, when he defeated Clay Guida by split decision in Atlantic City, N.J. With the win, Maynard snapped a two-fight winless skid.
A knee injury prevented Maynard from returning to action sooner. He was scheduled to face Joe Lauzon on Dec. 29 at UFC 155, but the injury limited his ability to conduct a full training regimen.
Maynard will carry an 11-1-1 professional record into the cage against Grant. The blemishes on his ledger were the result of two title fights he had with former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
They fought to a draw at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, 2011. Maynard was knocked out by Edgar in October 2011 at UFC 136.
During their first meeting, a nontitle affair in April 2008, Maynard controlled Edgar on the ground en route to a unanimous decision.
Grant (20-5) had been a sleeper in the 155-pound division until a first-round knockout of Matt Wiman on Jan. 26 opened the eyes of UFC officials.
He has won four fights in a row and is ranked 10th among lightweights by ESPN.com. Maynard is No. 3.
UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defends his title against Antonio Silva in the UFC 160 main event.
During their previous encounter on May 26, 2012, Velasquez (11-1) knocked out Silva in the first round of a nontitle bout. Silva (18-4) earned a rematch and title shot on Feb. 2 when he knocked out Alistair Overeem in the third.
Overeem entered that fight as the No. 1 heavyweight contender.
