The long awaited return of former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles will take place on May 25th when he takes on George Roop at UFC 160. 
UFC officials announced the fight booking on Thursday and the fight will take place on the preliminary card of UFC 160, which will come from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Bowles (10-2) opened his career with eight straight wins, which include his knockout victory over Miguel Torres to win the WEC bantamweight title in 2009.
After he won the title, he lost the belt in his first title defense to Dominick Cruz and has gone 2-2 in his last four fights. He has been out of action since the end of 2011 when he was defeated by Urijah Faber at UFC 139.
Roop (13-9-1) is in his second stint with the UFC and recently dropped down to the bantamweight division at UFC 158 and defeated Reuben Duran by decision. It was his first fight in the bantamweight division since he was defeated at WEC 46 by Eddie Wineland.
UFC 160 takes place on May 25th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be headlined by Cain Velasquez defending the UFC heavyweight title against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.