Melendez (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Eddie Alvarez and Gilbert Melendez have been talking about fighting for years, and now the lightweights have been booked to battle.

On Monday, the UFC announced that the two will fight in the co-headliner of UFC 188, which will take place June 13th in Mexico City.

Melendez (22-4) will be fighting for the first time since December, when he was tapped out by champion Anthony Pettis.

Alvarez (25-4), meanwhile, hasn’t fought since October, when he lost via UD to Donald Cerrone.

Although there was talk several years ago of Alvarez and Melendez fighting, when the two were champions with Bellator and Strikeforce respectively, the bout never materialized.

UFC 188 will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between champion Cain Velasquez and interim champ Fabricio Werdum.