World-ranked welterweight Jon Fitch will toe the line against Mike Pierce in a featured bout at UFC 107 “Penn vs. Sanchez” on Dec. 12 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. The UFC has put together an 11-fight lineup for the year-end show, as it returns to Tennessee for the second time in 2009.

Rooted at the American Kickboxing Academy, Fitch has not competed since UFC 100 in July, when he earned a unanimous decision against the previously unbeaten and world-ranked Paulo Thiago. The 31-year-old Fort Wayne, Ind., native has posted 17 wins in 18 fights, losing only to reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in that span. Victories against Diego Sanchez, Pride Fighting Championships veteran Akihiro Gono and American Top Team’s Luigi Fioravanti dot Fitch’s stellar resume.

Pierce, who replaces an injured Thiago Alves, will carry an impressive six-fight winning streak into the matchup. The 29-year-old former Sportfight welterweight champion last appeared at UFC Fight Night 19 in September, when he handed Brock Larson just his third defeat in 29 career bouts. Pierce has never been finished as a professional.

A lightweight championship match between titleholder B.J. Penn and top contender Diego Sanchez will anchor UFC 107, along with a heavyweight showdown between former champion Frank Mir and French kickboxer Cheick Kongo. A lightweight matchup pairing Kenny Florian with the relentless Clay Guida and a heavyweight tilt pitting the unbeaten Todd Duffy against the cagy Paul Buentello will round out the main card.

UFC 107 “Penn vs. Sanchez”
Saturday, Dec. 12
FedEx Forum
Memphis, Tenn.

UFC Lightweight Championship
B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez

Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo
Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida
Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce
Paul Buentello vs. Todd Duffee
Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia
Shane Nelson vs. Matt Wiman
Johny Hendricks vs. Ricardo Funch
Rousimar Palhares vs. Lucio Linhares
Damarques Johnson vs. Edgar Garcia
Kevin Burns vs. T.J. Grant