Gray Maynard makes featherweight debut against Fernando Bruno

Veteran Gray Maynard is betting a change in weight class will bring a change of momentum.

Maynard, who turned 37 this week, will make his featherweight debut against Fernando Bruno on July 8 at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Review-Journal initially reported the bout Thursday.

The hard-hitting Maynard (11-5-1) came a hair's breadth from winning the lightweight title from Frankie Edgar in a memorable pair of 2011 matchups, the first of which, a draw at UFC 125, was considered by many the fighter of the year.

But since losing the rematch to Edgar at UFC 136, Maynard's never quite been able to regin his stride, including losses in his past four fights.

Maynard will face Bruno, a 34-year-old Nova Uniao fighter with a 15-3 record. Bruno was submitted by Glaico Franca with 14 seconds remaining in their UFC 190 bout in his UFC debut. That snapped a four-fight win streak.