Fast-rising lightweight prospect Anthony Pettis will meet former International Fight League standout Bart Palaszewski in a pivotal 155-pound tilt at WEC 45 “Cerrone vs. Ratcliff” on Dec. 19 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Ten bouts are now official for the promotion’s year-end event.

Unbeaten in seven professional appearances, Pettis has not competed since he submitted Mike Campbell with a triangle choke in his WEC debut five months ago. The 22-year-old Duke Roufus protégé has finished six of his seven opponents inside one round, including 36- and 56-second victories.

A third-degree black belt in tae kwon do, Pettis held the Gladiators Fighting Series lightweight championship prior to his arrival in the WEC. He figures to have his hands full with Palaszewski, a veteran of 45 bouts.

The 26-year-old Palaszewski put the brakes on a two-fight losing streak in October, when he stopped Tyler Combs on second-round strikes under the Xtreme Fighting Organization umbrella. A native of Poland, he has delivered 25 of his 32 career wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission and holds notable victories against former IFL lightweight champion Ryan Schultz and UFC veterans Luke Caudillo, Joe Jordan, Steve Bruno and Alex Karalexis.

WEC 45 will also host the promotional debut of Englishman Brad Pickett, who will lock horns with Kyle Dietz in a bantamweight matchup.

Pickett will carry a seven-fighting winning streak into the bout, his first on American soil since a 2007 submission loss to Hideo Tokoro under the K-1 banner. The 31-year-old Cage Rage mainstay last appeared in August, when he submitted David Lee with a first-round guillotine choke at Ultimate Challenge UK “Payback.” Only four of Pickett’s 21 career bouts have gone the distance.

Dietz, meanwhile, finds himself on the rebound for the first time, having succumbed to a Rafael Rebello rear-naked choke at WEC 41 five months ago. The 23-year-old Iowan has not seen the second round in any fight in more than three years.

A lightweight showdown pairing former title challenger Donald Cerrone with Ed Ratcliff will headline WEC 45, which will also feature two key bantamweight tilts pitting Joseph Benavidez against Rani Yahya and Takeya Mizugaki against Scott Jorgensen.

WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff
Saturday, Dec. 19
Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas

Donald Cerrone vs. Ed Ratcliff
Anthony Njokuani vs. Chris Horodecki
Joseph Benavidez vs. Rani Yahya
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Scott Jorgensen
Anthony Pettis vs. Bart Palaszewski
Muhsin Corbbrey vs. Zachary Micklewright
David Smith vs. John Hosman
Tyler Toner vs. Brandon Visher
Brad Pickett vs. Kyle Dietz
Jameel Massouh vs. Erik Koch