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Gilbert Melendez dropping to featherweight to meet Jeremy Stephens at UFC 215

Longtime lightweight Gilbert Melendez will drop to featherweight in September, when he takes on Jeremy Stephens at UFC 215 in Edmonton.

UFC officials announced the 145-pound bout Thursday. The pay-per-view event is scheduled for Sept. 9 at Rogers Arena.

A former Strikeforce champion, Melendez (22-6) hasn't fought at featherweight since the earliest stages of his 15-year career.

The San Francisco-based veteran is looking to snap a career-worst three-fight skid. Since 2013, Melendez is 1-4 and has served a one-year suspension for a failed drug test.

Stephens (25-14) is also looking to right the ship, as he's dropped five of his last seven. A key victory over former bantamweight champion Renan Barao provided a big lift in May 2016, but he's gone 0-2 since.

Fighting out of San Diego, Stephens is also a former lightweight. He dropped to the 145-pound weight class in 2013.

The UFC has not yet announced a main event for UFC 215.