Danny Castillo meets Edson Barboza at UFC on FOX 9 in Sacramento

The UFC continues to stack its return to California’s state capital with hometown fan favorites.

In an intriguing lightweight bout, Danny Castillo (16-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) will meet Edson Barboza (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) at UFC on FOX 9 in December. UFC officials announced the fight booking late Wednesday night.

UFC on FOX 9 takes place Dec. 14 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and Facebook. The placement of the Castillo-Barboza bout is not yet known, but it is likely to serve on the preliminary card.

Castillo, who trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, joins team founder Urijah Faber, who meets Michael McDonald, and Chad Mendes, who fights Nik Lentz, as Alpha Male fighters on the card.

Castillo has won back-to-back fights since a knockout loss to Michael Johnson nearly a year ago. In February, he beat Paul Sass in London by unanimous decision. Then in July, at UFC on FOX 8, he outpointed Tim Means for his fifth win in six fights. Castillo last fought in front of the Sacramento crowd in his WEC debut, a submission loss to Donald Cerrone at WEC 34 in June 2008.

Barboza also has won two straight fights since an upset loss to Jamie Varner, who knocked him out in the first round at UFC 146 in May 2012. Since that setback, the first of his MMA career, Barboza has stopped Lucas Martins at UFC on FX 7 in January, then stopped Rafaello Oliveira with leg kicks at UFC 162 in July.

With the addition, the latest UFC on FOX 9 card now includes:

• Champ Anthony Pettis vs. Josh Thomson – for UFC lightweight title
• Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald
• Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit
• Nik Lentz vs. Chad Mendes
• Edson Barboza vs. Danny Castillo
• Mac Danzig vs. Joe Lauzon
• Scott Jorgensen vs. Ian McCall

For more on UFC on FOX 9, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Danny Castillo)