Jake Ellenberger vs. Stephen Thompson added to UFC 189

Jake Ellenberger, right

The stacked UFC 189 card keeps getting better.

According to an ESPN report, a new welterweight bout between Jake Ellenberger (30-9 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and Stephen Thompson (10-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has been signed for the event. Per ESPN, Ellenberger originally agreed to a fight with Tyron Woodley – only to have Woodley turn down the bout.

UFC 189 takes place July 11 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

It is not clear where Ellenberger vs. Thompson will be placed in the lineup.

Ellenberger, 30, snapped a three-fight losing skid in his last fight, scoring a technical submission of Josh Koscheck at UFC 184. Ellenberger had been on one of the best runs of his career prior to dropping a decision to Rory MacDonald at UFC on FOX 8. He followed that loss up with a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler and submission loss to Kelvin Gastelum.

Thompson is riding a four-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Patrick Cote by unanimous decision at UFC 178. His lone career loss came against Matt Brown, a unanimous decision in April 2012.

With the addition, UFC 189 now includes:

• Champ Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor – for featherweight title
• Champ Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald – for welterweight title
• Dennis Bermudez vs. Jeremy Stephens
• John Hathaway vs. Gunnar Nelson
• Brandon Thatch vs. John Howard
• Alex Garcia vs. Mike Swick
• Matt Brown vs. Tim Means
• Henry Briones vs. Cody Garbrandt
• Thomas Almeida vs. Brad Pickett
• Jake Ellenberger vs. Josh Thompson

For more on UFC 189, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.