Ex-champion Anthony Pettis to make lightweight return at UFC 213 vs. Jim Miller

After two fights at 145 pounds, Anthony Pettis is headed back to the weight class he used to rule.

Pettis (19-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC), the former UFC lightweight champion, will return to 155 to take on Jim Miller (28-9 MMA, 17-8 UFC) on July 8 at UFC 213.

Most recently, Pettis had a chance to become a two-division champion when he was scheduled for a 145-pound interim title bout with Holloway (17-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) at UFC 206, but things went horribly wrong.

“Showtime” missed weight by three pounds for the contest, eliminating his eligibility to win the interim belt. He was still allowed to compete, though, but it was a performance he will certainly want to forget after breaking his hand early in the first round before succumbing to a third-round TKO to Holloway. Following the loss, he spoke of his intent to return to 155.

In his only other scheduled featherweight fight, Pettis earned a third-round submission win over Charles Oliveira last August at UFC on FOX 21 to snap a three-fight skid that included dropping a 2015 unanimous decision to Rafael dos Anjos to lose the 155-pound belt.

Miller meanwhile will enter having won three of four, though he lost his most recent fight to Dustin Poirier via majority decision in February at UFC 208.

With the addition, the UFC 213 lineup now includes:

• Champ Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw — for bantamweight title
• Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler
• Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
• Jim Miller vs. Anthony Pettis
• Curtis Blaydes vs. Daniel Omielanczuk
• Gerald Meerschaert vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos

For more on UFC 213, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.