UFC Fight Night 35 Lands Luke Rockhold vs. Costa Philippou Middleweight Headliner

UFC president Dana White on Saturday night announced details for several upcoming events and match-ups.

Among the announcements was the headliner for UFC Fight Night 35, which is slated for Jan. 15 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.

Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will square off with Costa Philippou in a five-round, non-title fight in the night’s main event.

Rockhold won the Strikeforce belt by upsetting Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in September of 2011. He went on to defend the strap twice, against Keith Jardine and Tim Kennedy, before he was transferred over to the Octagon when Zuffa folded Strikeforce.

He was 10-1 at that point, but added a second loss to his record when Vitor Belfort knocked him out with a kick to the cranium at UFC on FX 8 earlier this year in Brazil.

Like Rockhold, Philippou (12-3, 1 NC) is coming off of a loss following a streak of victories.

Following a five-fight streak of wins that was capped by a TKO stoppage of Tim Boetsch, Philippou lost a unanimous decision to Francis Carmont at UFC 165 in September.

A win in Georgia puts the victor back within striking distance of a title shot, but the loser will tumble backwards down a long road to recovery.