Matt Brown vs. Kelvin Gastelum headlines UFC Fight Night 79 in Mexico

Matt Brown

A welterweight bout between Matt Brown (20-13 MMA, 13-7 UFC) and Kelvin Gastelum (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) will headline the UFC’s return to Mexico.

Brown announced the fight, set for UFC Fight Night 79, via his podcast on FOXSports.com.

UFC Fight Night 79 takes place Nov. 21 at Monterrey Arena in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Brown is ranked No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings. Gastelum was previously ranked at 170 pounds, but after a recent fight at middleweight, he’s now an honorable mention at 185 pounds.

Brown recently halted a two-fight losing skid – to now-champ Robbie Lawler and ex-titleholder Johny Hendricks – with a submission victory over Tim Means at UFC 189. Prior to the skid, Brown had continued a remarkable career turnaround and won seven straight fights. The streak got the 34-year-old and “The Ultimate Fighter 7? vet into title contention and moved up him into the top 10 of the weight class.

He now meets Gastelum, who was recently forced to fight at middleweight after a series of weight-cutting gaffes at welterweight. After a TKO win over 185-pounder Nate Marquardt at UFC 188, Gastelum pleaded for another shot at welterweight, though UFC President Dana White seemed to shoot down the idea:

However, Gastelum appears he got his wish, and he now looks to further distance himself from his first career loss: a split-decision defeat to Tyron Woodley at UFC 183.

For more on UFC Fight Night 79, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.