Ratcliff-Horodecki Planned for WEC 51

Lightweight Ed Ratcliff has agreed to face Chris Horodecki at the not-yet-announced WEC 51 on Sept. 30 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colo., his trainer Eric Del Fierro confirmed with Sherdog.com on Wednesday.

Ratcliff reported the bout -- originally scheduled for WEC 49 in June -- on his official Twitter account early Wednesday.

Ratcliff, who trains out of the Alliance gym in Chula Vista, Calif., has gone 3-2 in the WEC’s lightweight ranks. Donald Cerrone submitted the 27-year-old San Diego native in the third round during a heated bout at WEC 45 last December, which earned Ratcliff and Cerrone “Fight of the Night” honors from the promotion.

London, Ontario native Horodecki debuted in the sport at age 18 and reeled off twelve straight wins. Team Quest’s Ryan Schultz at the IFL “World Grand Prix” stopped Horodecki in December 2007. The Team Tompkins’ protégé made his WEC debut in December; Anthony Njokuani stopped Horodecki on strikes. Horodecki posted a third-round submission victory against Danny Downes at WEC 49 on June 20 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Headlining the event, featherweight champion Jose Aldo makes his second title defense against "Ultimate Fighter" veteran Manny Gamburyan, while former bantamweight champion Miguel Torres' return against Charlie Valencia. Lightweights Donald Cerrone and Jamie Varner will also rematch their controversial WEC 38 bout from January 2009.

WEC 51 will air live on Versus.