Hometown favorite Joe Lauzon meets Michael Johnson on UFC Boston card

The UFC's return to Boston will feature a little bit of hometown flair.

Popular lightweight Joe Lauzon, of nearby E. Bridgewater, Mass., returns to action on the first UFC on Fox Sports 1 card on Aug. 17, where he'll meet Michael "The Menace" Johnson.

The UFC formally announced the bout Monday night via Twitter.

Lauzon (22-8) is coming off a pair of bouts which ranked high in the discussion for 2012 Fight of the Year. In the first, he submitted Jamie Varner in the third round of their UFC on FOX 4 bout in August. In the second, he dropped a unanimous decision to Jim Miller in Las Vegas on Dec. 29.

Johnson (12-8), meanwhile, is also looking to get back into the win column. Johnson has lost two consecutive fights, to Myles Jury and Reza Madadi.

Lauzon also appeared on the only other UFC event in Boston, as he submitted Gabe Ruediger in the first round of their UFC 118 bout in 2010.