Emil Meek set for delayed UFC debut vs. now unretired Jordan Mein at UFC 206 in Toronto

The UFC’s December return to Toronto continues to grow with the addition of a new welterweight bout featuring a fighter making his promotional debut – after being pulled from a previous booking – and one stepping out of retirement.

Emil Meek (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will fight for the UFC for the first time when he takes on Canada’s Jordan Mein (29-10 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at UFC 206. Although the UFC has not formally announced the fight, Meek made an announcement on his Instagram account today. The news also was reported by MMA Fighting.

UFC 206 takes place Dec. 10 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The event airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass. In the main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier meets Anthony Johnson in a rematch of their May 2015 fight, which Cormier won by third-round submission to win the then-vacant belt.

December 10, UFC 206 – Emil Valhalla Meek Vs. Jordan Young Gun Mein! New tough hard challenges ahead, the UFC is not giving me any easy fights. Jordan is one of the best welter weights out there, he has only lost to the best fighters in the division. Knocked down Top ranked fighter Carlos Condit, went the distance with the UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodly! And now he has to face a hungry viking! With @FrontlineAcademy in my back I’m prepared for everything, I will be ready, I will be the best I can possible be, I will be prepared, I will fight, I will conquer, I will be glorious, we will be victorious!!! See you in Canada #valhallaarmy! @Betsafe @Proteinfabrikken.no #proteinfabrikken #betsafe

A photo posted by Emil Valhalla Meek (@emilvalhalla) on Oct 18, 2016 at 4:02am PDT

Emil Meek

Meek was set to fight Jessin Ayari at UFC Fight Night 93 in September in Germany, but he was pulled from the card in July after he disclosed a medical treatment he received prior to signing with the promotion that was deemed to be potential out of compliance with the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy. Because the treatment occurred before he signed with the company, he was not subject to any punishment – and the specific treatment was not revealed – but he did have to wait through his four-month testing period with USADA.

In May, Meek picked up a 45-second knockout victory over UFC veteran and former WSOF champion Rousimar Palhares at Venator FC 3 in Italy, which kept his streak of stoppages in all his wins intact. The 28-year-old Norwegian fighter has a three-fight winning streak heading into his UFC debut.

In September, Mein announced he was coming out of retirement after hanging up his gloves in August 2015 when he was just 25. Those 25 years featured 39 fights, though – so plenty of mileage.

He’ll be looking to rebound from a TKO loss to Thiago Alves at UFC 183 in January 2015, which was his most recent trip to the octagon. That will give him nearly two years of inactivity when he steps in against Meek in Toronto. Prior to his loss to Alves, he had won six of his previous eight fights, including three in the UFC and two for Strikeforce. In Strikeforce, he suffered a split-decision loss to Tyron Woodley, who now is the UFC’s welterweight champion – though most media outlets scored the fight 30-27 for Woodley.

With the addition, the latest UFC 206 card now includes:

• Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson
• Poliana Botelho vs. Valerie Letourneau
• Zach Makovsky vs. John Moraga
• John Makdessi vs. Lando Vannata
• Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Drew Dober
• Rustam Khabilov vs. Jason Saggo
• Misha Cirkunov vs. Nikita Krylov
• Dooho Choi vs. Cub Swanson
• Li Jingliang vs. Chad Laprise
• Emil Meek vs. Jordan Mein

For more on UFC 206, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.