Welterweight fights are stacking up one after another for the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) next trip to Montreal on March 16 as a sixth 170-pound contest has been added to the UFC 158: "St-Pierre vs. Diaz" fight card, this one between Canada's own Sean Pierson and the struggling Rick Story.
The match up is one between a streaking fighter in Pierson, who has won two-straight, and Story, an athlete who will be trying to fight his way out of a rough patch that includes losses in three of his last four.
UFC officials confirmed the bout for the March 16 event on Tuesday.
Pierson (13-6) had a rebound year in 2012, overcoming a 2011 campaign that saw the Ontario native go winless with back-to-back victories for the first time since joining the UFC ranks. The 36-year-old is one of the oldest fighters on the UFC roster, but that hasn't prevented him from racking up a 3-2 record inside the Octagon.
"The Punisher" has finished 10 of his 13 opponents by (T)KO or submission, and will fight in Montreal for the first time since a decision victory over Matt Riddle in his UFC debut at UFC 124.
Story (14-6) was pegged as a future title challenger roughly 18-month ago after putting together a five-fight win-streak that included victories over Johny Hendricks and Thiago Alves. "The Horror" then hit a downslide, losing three of his next four. Story was finished for the first time in his career by Demian Maia in his last fight, and needs a dominant performance to prove he is still capable of fighting UFC caliber athletes.
At just 28 years of age and with tremendous potential, Story needs to turn it around or his place on the UFC roster will be in jeopardy.
It is unknown at this time where Pierson vs. Story will air on the UFC 158 fight card, which is expected to be broadcast on pay-per-view (PPV), with the event "Prelims" likely to air on FX and stream on Facebook.
UFC 158: "St-Pierre vs. Diaz" goes down March 16 from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A welterweight championship grudge match between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz serves as the main event while crucial 170-pound contests of Carlso Condit vs. Rory MacDonald and Johny Hendricks vs. Jake Ellenberger fill the undercard.