Ricardo Lamas vs. Mirsad Bektic booked for UFC 225

An important featherweight tilt is headed to the Windy City.

Former UFC title challenger Ricardo Lamas is set to meet rising prospect Mirsad Bektic at UFC 225 in Chicago, promotion officials announced Thursday. Combate first reported the pairing last week.

Lamas (18-6) is coming off a surprising first-round knockout loss to Josh Emmett in the UFC on FOX 26 co-main event last December. That defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak, which included stoppages of Charles Oliveira and Jason Knight. His three most recent losses before the Emmett upset were to then-champ Jose Aldo, longtime top contender Chad Mendes, and future titleholder Max Holloway.

Bektic (12-1) rebounded in his last bout, beating Godofredo Pepey by first-round body-shot knockout at UFC on FOX 27 this past winter. Prior to that, he fell for the first time in his pro career, losing to Darren Elkins by third-round stoppage at UFC 209. Bektic dominated the first 10 minutes. Elkins’ win over Bektic is considered 2017’s Comeback of the Year by most fans and pundits.

UFC 225 takes place at United Center on June 9. In the main event, middleweight champion Robert Whittaker defends his title for the first time in a rematch against Yoel Romero. Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington square off for the interim welterweight championship in the co-headliner.