Sam Stout returns in January for rumble with Thiago Tavares

Hard-hitting lightweight Sam Stout will escape the cold of his home-base in Canada and head due south this January 14 when he faces submission-specialist Thiago Tavares as part of the UFC’s return to Rio de Janeiro for UFC 142.

The UFC announced the fight earlier today.

Stout is coming off a pair of wins including a devastating knockout of Yves Edwards in June but will have been out of action for more than six months when he faces Tavares based on some time off for personal reasons. Stout holds an overall record of 17-6-1 including nine TKOs with past wins over Matt Wiman and Joe Lauzon.

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His opponent, Tavares, will be fighting in the friendly confines of Brazil once again after picking up a knockout win over Spencer Fisher at UFC 134. The win was only the second of his career, with eleven of sixteen involving a submission. In addition to Fisher, the 27-year old has also found in-ring success in the UFC over Michihiro Omigawa and Manny Gamburyan.

The match-up adds to a UFC 142 lineup already featuring Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza, Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson, and featherweight champion Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC