Edgar-Penn 2, Couture-Toney Official for UFC 118

Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will defend his crown against the man he dethroned two months ago when he meets B.J. Penn in the UFC 118 “Edgar vs. Penn 2” main event on Aug. 28 at the TD Garden in Boston.

UFC officials on Thursday made the Edgar-Penn rematch official, along with the co-headliner between hall of famer Randy Couture and former boxing champion James Toney. Seven other bouts have been greenlit for the event.

Edgar will carry a four-fight winning streak into the event. The 28-year-old Toms River, N.J., native upset Penn by unanimous decision at UFC 112 in April and holds other notable victories against former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts standout Tyson Griffin and one-time World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight titleholder Hermes Franca. The once-beaten Edgar now trains alongside former middleweight King of Pancrase Ricardo Almeida. In 13 professional bouts, he has never been finished.

Based in Hilo, Hawaii, Penn remains one of only two men -- Couture is the other -- to hold UFC titles in two weight divisions. A potent stand-up fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, the 31-year-old has secured 12 of his 15 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. His loss to Edgar was his first as a lightweight in more than eight years. Victories against UFC hall of famer Matt Hughes, former Pride Fighting Championships lightweight titleholder Takanori Gomi, two-time UFC title contender Kenny Florian and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez anchor his resume.

Couture, who turns 47 next week, has not competed since he submitted fellow hall of famer Mark Coleman at UFC 109 in February. He has won back-to-back fights since his unanimous decision loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 10 months ago in Portland, Ore. One of the sport’s most accomplished fighters, he owns victories against seven former UFC champions: Coleman, Vitor Belfort (twice), Maurice Smith, Kevin Randleman, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Tim Sylvia.

The 41-year-old Toney has never before competed in mixed martial arts. He owns a 72-6-3 mark as a professional boxer, having won championships in multiple weight classes. A Grand Rapids, Mich., native, Toney was undefeated through his first 46 fights. All six of his defeats have come by decision. He tested positive for suspected steroid use in 2005.

UFC 118 will also feature a pivotal middleweight duel pitting Nate Marquardt against Rousimar Palhares and a key lightweight showdown pairing Florian with the unbeaten Gray Maynard.

UFC 118 “Edgar vs. Penn 2”
Saturday, Aug. 28
TD Garden
Boston

UFC Lightweight Championship
Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn

Randy Couture vs. James Toney
Nate Marquardt vs. Rousimar Palhares
Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard
Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara
Joe Lauzon vs. Terry Etim
Andre Winner vs. Nik Lentz
Nick Osipczak vs. Greg Soto
Mike Pierce vs. Amilcar Alves
* Phil Baroni vs. John Salter

* Not Official