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Santiago Ponzinibbio can stake his claim to once again be included among the top contenders at 170-pounds if he takes victory in what will be the most high profile bout of his career after it was announced that the Argentine will take on former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler at December’s UFC 245 event.

Ponzinibbio (27-3) has been in the midst of a seven-fight win streak in the division which includes victories against Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry and Neil Magny but hasn’t competed since that Magny fight — in November of last year. Around that time, he was being talked as a potential opponent for Darren Till (who was coming off his first career defeat to Tyron Woodley) but that has yet to come to pass.

New of the fight was first reported by MMA Junkie.

 

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Feliz día de la bandera! #20dejunio #diadelabandera #argentina #teamponzinibbio #argentinogenteboa

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Lawler (28-14), meanwhile, has suffered a dip in form recently, losing three straight to Colby Covington, Ben Askren and Rafael Dos Anjos but can still be considered a significant threat in the division and particularly in a contest in which prolonged exchanges are expected to take place on the feet.

UFC 245 will take place on December 14 at the T-Mobile Arena is Las Vegas and also features a clash between Amanda Nunes and Germaine De Randamie for the UFC bantamweight title, while Matt Brown is expected to fight Ben Saunders.

Further bouts will be announced for the card in the coming weeks for what is expected to be one of the largest UFC events of the year.