Josh Koscheck-Johny Hendricks Welterweight Showdown Added to UFC on Fox 3

Josh Koscheck (left) will battle Johny Hendricks on May 5. | Photo: Sherdog.com

UFC President Dana White announced the matchup via Twitter on Sunday.

Koscheck and Hendricks are expected to meet on the main card of UFC on Fox 3, which takes place May 5 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The show’s headliner will see lightweight contenders Nate Diaz and Jim Miller clash in a scheduled five-round affair.

A onetime title challenger, 34-year-old Koscheck has recorded back-to-back wins since recuperating from a broken orbital bone suffered in his December 2010 loss to Georges St. Pierre. Despite plans to move to middleweight upon his return, “Kos” has hung around at 170, drubbing ex-champ Matt Hughes in September before edging Mike Pierce in a Feb. 4 split decision at UFC 143.

Hendricks, 28, got the biggest win of his career and punched his way up the rankings on Dec. 30 by mauling perennial No. 2 welterweight Jon Fitch in just 12 seconds. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy holds a 9-1 record under Zuffa employ and enters his matchup with Koscheck on a three-fight winning streak, with victories over Fitch, Pierce and T.J. Waldburger.