Gabriel Benitez vs. Jonathan Pearce booked for UFC event on May 1

Gabriel Benitez and Jonathan Pearce look to get win streaks going when they meet in May.

MMA Fighting confirmed with sources with knowledge of the matchup that Benitez (22-8) and Pearce (10-4) will meet in a lightweight matchup at a May 1 UFC event with a location still to be announced.

Benitez returned to the win column this past December with a first-round TKO of Justin Jaynes. The Mexican veteran stopped a two-fight losing skid with the victory and is 1-1 since moving back up from featherweight. He has won three of his past five fights.

Pearce has competed primarily as a lightweight throughout his career, but he picked up his first UFC win in a featherweight bout with a second-round TKO of Kai Kamaka III in November. He is 6-1 in his past seven fights, including win over Jacob Rosales on the Contender Series in 2019 that earned him a UFC contract.