Swick-Mitchell Targeted for UFC Fight Night 23

Another bout has been added to the rumored UFC Fight Night 23 card, likely taking place on Jan. 22 at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, as welterweights Mike Swick and David Mitchell have agreed to square off.

Sherdog.com confirmed the news with sources close to the fight Tuesday morning. The match-up was initially reported by MMAJunkie.com. The event will probably go down as the second installment in the UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” fundraiser series. The first “Troops” event took place in December 2008 and raised $4 million to aid wounded U.S. military personal and their families.

Swick will look to rebound from the first back-to-back losses of his career. The American Kickboxing Academy standout dropped bouts to Paulo Thiago and former title contender Dan Hardy in his last two trips inside the Octagon. Originally entering the UFC as a middleweight, Swick made the cut to 170 pounds in 2008 after suffering a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Yushin Okami. Prior to the Okami loss, Swick enjoyed great success as a middleweight, though not against top competition.

After dropping to welterweight, “Quick” rifled off a four-fight winning streak, including victories over Marcus Davis and Ben Saunders, before facing Hardy at UFC 105 for the number-one contender spot. A member of the original “Ultimate Fighter” cast, Swick has notched an impressive 9-3 record since joining the UFC in 2005.

Mitchell suffered the first loss of his career in his UFC debut against Anthony Waldburger at UFC Fight Night 22 in September, dropping a unanimous decision after three rounds. Prior to the defeat, the Nor-Cal Fighting Alliance product had run off 11 straight victories, submitting nine of his opponents, with only two of his victories coming by way of decision. Mitchell has never won a fight by knockout.

The “Troops” event -- which has not yet been formally announced by the UFC -- will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between two of the division's most dynamic fighters, as Kenny Florian will meet Evan Dunham in what will be a crucial fight for both men. Also slated for the show is another lightweight scrap in the running for “Fight of the Night,” as Melvin Guillard faces Yves Edwards.