Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa set for UFC 223

A lightweight matchup is just about set for UFC 223.

Former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and Michael Chiesa have verbally agreed to meet at the April 7 event at Barclays Center in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. MMA Fighting confirmed an initial Tuesday night report by ESPN.

Pettis (20-7) was at one time considered on the short list of the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighters. But the Milwaukee native’s UFC title loss to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185 started a skid of five losses over his past seven fights, the most recent of which was a submission loss to Dustin Poirier

Chiesa (14-3) is looking to get in the swing of after an inactive 2017. The TUF 15 winner fought just once last year, a first-round submission loss to Kevin Lee in June. That snapped a three-fight win streak for the Spokane, Wash. native. Chiesa has earned post-fight bonuses in three of his past five fights.

UFC 223 will be a lightweight-heavy show. Not only is the title fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov headlining the card, but 155-pound matchups between Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder and Joe Lauzon and Chris Gruetzemacher have also been announced.