Anthony Pettis returns to lightweight to fight Diego Ferreira at Jan. 18 show

Anthony Pettis is returning to the division where he once reigned as champion.

MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that “Showtime” will fight Diego Ferreira (16-2) in a 155-pound bout at the upcoming Jan. 18 pay-per-view expected to take place in Las Vegas. The matchup was first reported by MMA Junkie.

This will be Pettis’s first lightweight bout since UFC 229 in October 2018. At that event, Pettis lost by second-round corner stoppage to Tony Ferguson. The 32-year-old has competed in three weight classes in the UFC and captured gold at 155 pounds, successfully defending that title once.

Pettis’s last two bouts have taken place at welterweight. He split those outings, defeating Stephen Thompson by second-round KO and then losing a unanimous decision to Nate Diaz.

Ferreira is currently on a five-fight winning streak, with decision victories in 2019 over Mairbek Taisumov and Rustam Khabilov. The 34-year-old Brazilian owns a 7-2 UFC record.

The Jan. 18 show is tentatively scheduled to be UFC 246 and to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, pending the finalization of a rumored main event involving Conor McGregor.