Jamie Varner, Pat Healy to Lock Horns in Lightweight Tilt at UFC on Fox 9

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Jamie Varner and Pat Healy are set to square off at UFC on Fox 9.

The promotion announced the 155-pound scrap on Sunday. UFC on Fox 9 takes place at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on Dec. 14 and is headlined by a lightweight title showdown between reigning champion Anthony Pettis and former Strikeforce ruler Josh Thomson. The event’s main card will air on Fox.

Varner has alternated wins and losses since returning to the UFC in May 2012. The ex-WEC lightweight king authored one of last year’s biggest upsets when he stopped Brazilian standout Edson Barboza in the first round at UFC 146. The Arizona Combat Sports representative then came up short against Joe Lauzon in a wildly entertaining bout at UFC on Fox 4 before taking a split verdict over Melvin Guillard at UFC 155. Most recently, “C-4” dropped a narrow split decision against Gleison Tibau on Aug. 31.

Healy is still looking for his first official Octagon victory after losing a unanimous decision to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 165. Prior to that defeat, “Bam Bam” had a dominant triumph over Jim Miller in April wiped out when he tested positive for marijuana after the bout.