Edson Barboza is set to welcome Gilbert Melendez back to the Octagon following more than a year-long hiatus at UFC on Fox 20.
Barboza has alternated wins and losses in his last four fights but earned arguably his biggest triumph to date at UFC 197, where he captured a unanimous verdict over former lightweight king Anthony Pettis. The 30-year-old Brazilian is 11-4 in the Octagon overall with wins against the likes of Paul Felder, Bobby Green, Evan Dunham and Danny Castillo, among others.
A former Strikeforce champion and UFC title challenger, Melendez was suspended for one year for failing a post-fight drug test at UFC 188. “El Nino” lost a split decision against Eddie Alvarez at the June 13 event in Mexico City. He is 1-3 in the Las Vegas-based promotion overall, with his lone triumph coming against Diego Sanchez at UFC 166.