Aljamain Sterling vs. Rani Yahya scheduled for UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9

Two of the more established Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweights will lock horns at UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9 from inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, as New York native Aljamain Sterling meets Brazilian submission specialist Rani Yahya.

UFC announced the booking earlier this week.

Sterling, 28, is coming off an impressive victory over former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao this past July. “Funk Master” has struggled to win close fights during his UFC tenure, including split-decision losses to Bryan Caraway and Raphael Assuncao, but will have the opportunity to end 2017 on a three-fight win streak when he takes on Yahya.

Yahya, 33, has produced a 9-3 (1 NC) record since entering the promotion back in 2011. The Brazilian has only lost to Joe Soto after returning to bantamweight three years ago and is consistently proving that he’s more than just a divisional gatekeeper. Yahya will have the biggest opportunity of his UFC career to climb the rankings when he meets Sterling in California this December.

UFC Fight Night 123 will be headlined by a featherweight scrap between proven veteran Cub Swanson and undefeated youngster Brian Ortega.

For more UFC Fight Night 123 fight card news click here.