Longtime UFC featherweight contender Erik Koch is going to bulk up to switch weight classes for his next fight in February.

“New Breed” is set to take on Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rafaello Oliveira in a lightweight contest at UFC 170, set for February 22, according to a report by MMA Fighting published on Saturday morning.

After rattling off four straight wins, Koch was scheduled to face 145-pound champ Jose Aldo at UFC 149 July 2012. However, a foot injury forced Aldo off the card and the bout was rescheduled for UFC 153 in October of the same year.

Unfortunately for Koch, luck was again not on his side, as this time he suffered an injury and was replaced by former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.

The Roufusport fighter has since suffered two fairly lopsided losses to upcoming title challenger Ricardo Lamas and perennial contender Dustin Poirier, so he has opted to move up a weight class for his next appearance in the cage.

Koch, who has a 13-3 overall record as a professional mixed martial artist, fought his first six bouts at 155 pounds and won all but one of those bouts via stoppage (the other was a unanimous decision win).

Meanwhile, his upcoming opponent, Oliveira, is likely in a must win situation at next month’s pay-per-view event.

The 29-year-old AMA Fight Club product is just 1-3 in his past four bouts and all of his losses can via stoppages.

Will Koch be able to make a title run at lightweight or will Oliveira pull off a big upset and derail his championship dreams awfully quickly?