The influx of the WEC into the UFC will begin before 2010 is over as featherweights Leonard Garcia and Tyler Toner have agreed to meet at the “Ultimate Fighter” season 12 finale show on Dec 4.
The fight was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the situation on Saturday, with verbal agreements in place for the early December contest.
The news came just earlier this week that the WEC would merge with the UFC in 2011, and it looks like with a couple of cards left to go in 2010, the promotion will start to showcase a few featherweights and possibly some bantamweights before the year is out.
Leonard Garcia (14-6-1) is familiar with the UFC having fought there three times before dropping down to 145lbs and a move over to the WEC. The former title contender is coming off a loss to Mark Hominick in his last bout, and hopes to be welcomed back to the UFC with a win in December.
Coming off a loss of his own in his last fight in September, Tyler Toner (11-2) will look to turn things around when he gets his first crack at competing in the world famous Octagon in December. A product of the Grudge Training Center in Colorado, Toner had gone 1-1 in the WEC and will try to up that record when he make his UFC debut in five weeks.
There’s been no word if the bout between Garcia and Toner would make the televised broadcast for the Spike TV show or not, but both are known for exciting styles so there’s a good chance the featherweights may be seen at some point during the show.
More fights like the Garcia/Toner match-up could be added to the last couple of cards to close out 2010, although no other bouts have been confirmed at this time.