Top Middleweight Contenders Chris Weidman, Tim Boetsch Collide at UFC 155 on Dec. 29

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The UFC’s year-end card has received another new addition, as promotion officials confirmed Friday that middleweight contenders Chris Weidman and Tim Boetsch will face off at UFC 155.

The Dec. 29 event takes place at a to-be-announced venue in Las Vegas and is expected to be headlined by a heavyweight title bout between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. The evening’s main draw airs live on pay-per-view and will also see former two-time middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen make his return to 205 pounds against ex-light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin.

Weidman, 28, has yet to taste defeat in his pro career, compiling nine consecutive victories since his first fight in 2009. The former Ring of Combat titlist has earned five wins in the Octagon, most recently knocking out the highly-regarded Mark Munoz at UFC on Fuel TV 4 in July.

"I think I’m the No. 1 contender in the division, but with [UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva] not fighting for the rest of 2012, I want to stay busy and keep getting better," said Weidman in the official release. "I think I’m the best middleweight in the world, and I’m going to prove it against another top contender.”

Three years older than his foe, Boetsch has not lost since making the cut to 185 pounds last year. “The Barbarian” has posted four straight wins as a UFC middleweight, outpointing Kendall Grove and Nick Ring before knocking out Yushin Okami in a come-from-behind upset at UFC 144. Boetsch was last seen taking an uneventful split decision from ex-Bellator pacesetter Hector Lombard on July 21 at UFC 149.