Lightweight contender Donald Cerrone, after forcing Dennis Siver to tap in the first round Saturday night at UFC 137, said he wanted a fight in December. Cerrone got his wish.
He will face Nate Diaz at UFC 141, the promotion announced Monday on its website.
The fight will be held Dec. 30 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It is being billed as the UFC 141 co-main event.
A heavyweight title elimination bout between former UFC champion Brock Lesnar and ex-Strikeforce belt-holder Alistair Overeem tops the card.
Cerrone (17-3, one no contest) has won six fights in a row. The former WEC lightweight contender is 4-0 since making his UFC debut on Feb. 5. After a four-fight stint at welterweight, Diaz returned to lightweight in September against Takanori Gomi. He submitted Gomi in the first round.
Diaz is 14-7 as a pro.
Franklin McNeil covers mixed martial arts and boxing for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Franklin_McNeil.