Originally Posted by MMAJunkie

Stevenson vs. Tibau official for UFC 86


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A long-rumored UFC 86 bout between UFC lightweight contender Joe Stevenson (28-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Gleison Tibau (15-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is now official.

The organization recently added the fight, which has been guaranteed TV time on the pay-per-view broadcast, to the Events section of UFC.com.

UFC 86 takes place July 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and features a main event between UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin, who can currently be seen each Wednesday on episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest."

Stevenson returns to action for the first time since his UFC 80 loss to B.J. Penn. The fight, which was for the UFC's interim lightweight title, headlined the January event. Stevenson was floored and suffered a cut early in the fight, but he proved resilient and survived the round. Penn, though, ended it in the second with a rear-naked choke.

Stevenson, the welterweight winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 2," had strung together five consecutive victories to get the title shot. He now looks to get back into contention against Tibau, who had a four-fight win streak snapped by Tyson Griffin at UFC 81 in February.

Tibau, part of the famed American Top Team, has won six of his past eight fights. Prior to the loss to Griffin, the 24-year-old Brazilian delivered highly touted British fighter Terry Etim his first career loss during UFC 75 in September.

The UFC 86 card now includes:

* Champion Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin (for UFC light heavyweight belt)
* Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Lytle*
* Ricardo Almeida vs. Patrick Cote*
* Justin McCully vs. Frank Mir
* Joe Stevenson vs. Gleison Tibau
* Justin Bucholz vs. Corey Hill*
* Melvin Guillard vs. Dennis Siver
* Cole Miller vs. TBA*
* Jared Rollins vs. Ben Saunders*
* Steve Bruno vs. TBA*