Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Jamie Varner will try to erase the memory of his last performance when he battles James Krause at the upcoming UFC 173 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for May 24, 2014 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC announced the booking earlier this week.
Varner (21-9) is in dire need of a win, having lost three of his last five fights since returning to the Octagon in early 2012. In addition, he's now dropped two in a row after getting pasted by Abel Trujillo in a UFC 169 barnburner just last month in New Jersey.
One more and it could be the unemployment line for the ex-WEC champ.
Opposing him is Krause (20-5), who has been lighting it up since 2011, stringing together eight-straight wins (with six finishes). Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, including Krause, who was stopped by Bobby Green last November on FOX Sports 1.
Back to the drawing board.
UFC 173 will be headlined by a middleweight title fight featuring undefeated champion Chris Weidman, as he puts his 185-pound title on the line against former two-division titleholder Vitor Belfort. Elsewhere on the card, Chris Holdsworth tangles with Kyung Ho Kang, while Doo Ho Choi throws hands opposite Sam Sicilia.
Stay tuned for more announcements to this Memorial Day Weekend event as they become available.