Brad Pickett (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

After going 1-2 as a flyweight, rugged vet Brad Pickett is returning to bantamweight and will face rising prospect Thomas Almeida on July 11th. The bout will be part of UFC 189, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pickett (24-10) dropped to 125 last March, and decisioned Neil Seery, but since then he’s been defeated by Ian McCall and Chico Camus.

Almeida (18-0), on the other hand, is coming off a memorable, TKO win over Yves Jabouin at UFC 186, after decisioning Tim Gorman in his Octagon debut last November.

UFC 189 will be headlined by a featherweight fight between champion Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. In the co-headliner, welterweight champion Robbie Lawler will take on Rory MacDonald.