Returning to the UFC for the first time since 2006, Paul Buentello will face rising heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee at UFC 107 in Memphis.
MMAJunkie.com issued the initial report, and Inside Fights has since confirmed the bout with sources close to the organization. Both fighters have agreed to the fight, and bout agreements are expected to be distributed this week.
Buentello was scheduled to fight Gilbert Yvel on the canceled Affliction show in August. He had a contract with Strikeforce, but was able to secure a release from the promotion in order to sign with the UFC.
Duffee scored the fastest knockout in UFC history last month with a seven-second knockout of Tim Hague. After the knockout, Duffee said he wanted to face the biggest and best that the division had to offer, and while Buentello isn’t considered the biggest or the best, he’s still a significant step up in competition from what Duffee is used to.
UFC 107 takes place December 12 in Memphis and is headlined by a lightweight title fight between champion B.J. Penn and challenger Diego Sanchez.
