Sam Stout vs. KJ Noons Changed to Welterweight Bout for TUF Nations Finale Card

Less than 24 hours to go before The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale weigh-ins and the formerly lightweight bout between Sam Stout and KJ Noons has been changed to a welterweight contest, according to UFC officials.

“The lightweight bout originally scheduled between Sam Stout and KJ Noons for UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Kennedy (TUF Nations Finale) has been changed to a welterweight contest,” read a UFC statement.

“The fighters approached the UFC to request the change in weight class, and it was subsequently approved by both the UFC and the Quebec athletic commission, the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux.”

Stout vs. Noons is slated to headline the preliminary portion of the fight card on Fox Sports 1.

Stout (20-9-1) has spent the past several years on the UFC roster, alternating between wins and losses. He enters the fight with Noons looking to string back-to-back victories together for the first time since 2011.

He last stepped in the Octagon in December, when he won a unanimous decision over Cody McKenzie.

Noons (12-7) is a former EliteXC lightweight champion, but has also struggled to build any momentum since moving to Strikeforce and then the UFC. After losing three consecutive bouts, including his Octagon debut, Noons got back in the win column with the nod over George Sotiropoulos at UFC 166 last October, his most recent fight.

The TUF Nations Finale features Michael Bisping vs. Tim Kennedy in a five-round middleweight bout in Wednesday night’s main event at Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec.

Click here for the full TUF Nations Finale fight card and start times.