Originally Posted by mmajunkie

As expected top UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (11-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will headline December's "UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops" event against Japanese fighter and UFC rookie Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

The UFC today announced the event details.

The event, which features notables such as Mike Swick, Frankie Edgar, Matt Wiman and Luigi Fioravanti, takes place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., near the Fort Bragg military installation.

A three-hour broadcast of the night's main card airs live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET.

Koscheck, who most recently scored a unanimous-decision victory over Chris Lytle at UFC 86, is largely considered the UFC's top-ranked welterweight contender -- and one of the top three or four 170-pounders in the world. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter is 7-1 in his past eight fights.

Although Koscheck lost to now-current champ Georges St. Pierre once before -- back in August 2007 in a bout that guaranteed the winner a title shot -- Koscheck remains the most likely candidate to challenge St. Pierre for his title if he emerges victorious in December.

Yoshida, the 2007 Cage Force welterweight tournament winner, made his professional MMA debut that same year. Since beginning his career 1-2, he's posted nine consecutive victories, which included a quick, 56-second submission victory over War Machine (previously known as Jon Koppenhaver) in his octagon debut at UFC 84.

Yoshida, who hasn't forced a victory to a decision since his pro debut, was then scheduled to fight Karo Parisyan at UFC 88 in September. However, 24 hours before fight time, Parisyan pulled out of the fight due to injury.