Jamie Varner vs. Pat Healy Joins UFC on FOX 9 Card in December

By John Heinis on Monday, October 7th 2013
Jamie Varner vs. Pat Healy Joins UFC on FOX 9 Card in December

Two well-rounded grapplers are looking to find their way back into the win column at UFC on FOX 9 on December 14.

Former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner squares off with Strikeforce import Pat Healy at the nationally televised event, as reported by the UFC News Twitter account.

Healy remains winless this year, getting decisively outwrestled by surging contender Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 165 two weeks ago.

While the 11-year fight veteran choked Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Jim Miller unconscious in a back-and-forth war at UFC 159 in April, but the result was overturned to a no contest when Healy failed his post-fight drug test for marijuana.

The Team Quest fighter remains a top threat in the 155-pound division, posting a 7-1 mark Strikeforce banner, with the lone blemish coming against upcoming title challenger Josh Thomson.

Meanwhile, his upcoming opponent, Varner, has had a tumultuous career since losing the WEC strap to Benson Henderson in January 2010.

Varner went 1-4-1 in his next six bouts, but finally got back on the winning track in late 2011.

The ex-champ looked to be back in vintage form when he scored a TKO victory over then-undefeated prospect Edson Barboza at UFC 146 last May, filling in as a late replacement for Evan Dunham.

That performance marked his third straight win.

However, the Arizona native has gone just 1-2 since then, most recently losing a close split decision to hulking lightweight Gleison Tibau at UFC 164 in late August.

Will Healy’s cardio and submissions be the difference maker in this bout or will Varner’s wrestling and ground and pound be the deciding factor?

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