Pat Healy vs. Jamie Varner added to December's UFC on FOX 9 event

An already stacked UFC on FOX 9 card gets even deeper, as Pat Healy (31-16 MMA, 0-2 UFC) meets former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner (21-8-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC).

UFC officials today announced the new pairing.

Featuring a lineup that includes a headlining contest between UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and challenger Josh Thomson, UFC on FOX 9 takes place on Dec. 14 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

The evening’s main card airs on FOX following prelims that air on FOX Sports 1 and stream on Facebook. The Healy-Varner fight will be part of the night’s preliminary card.

The durable Healy will try for a fourth time to get an official UFC win. In April, he handily defeated perennial contender Jim Miller, but the result of the contest was overturned after Healy tested positive for marijuana. Most recently, he lost a unanimous decision to fast-rising prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov at September’s UFC 165 event.

Meanwhile, Varner looks to rebound from a split-decision loss to Gleison Tibau at August’s UFC 164 event. The former WEC champ in 2012 returned to the UFC’s octagon for a second stint in the promotion and has alternated wins and losses in his four appearances.

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

• Anthony Pettis vs. Josh Thomson – for UFC lightweight title
• Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald
• Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit
• Nik Lentz vs. Chad Mendes

• Mac Danzig vs. Joe Lauzon
• Scott Jorgensen vs. Ian McCall
• Pat Healy vs. Jamie Varner
• Edson Barboza vs. Danny Castillo
• Kelvin Gastelum vs. Court McGee
• John Moraga vs. Darren Uyenoyama
• Roger Bowling vs. Abel Trujillo
• Cody McKenzie vs. Sam Stout

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

(Pictured: Jamie Varner)