HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 03: Alexander Gustafsson raises his hands after facing Daniel Cormier in their UFC light heavyweight championship bout during the UFC 192 event at the Toyota Center on October 3, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Two-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon when he faces Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night in Hamburg, Germany on Sept. 3.
UFC officials announced the new pairing late Thursday night.
Gustafsson (16-4) will have been out of action for nearly a year after losing a five-round war with Daniel Cormier last October.
The loss dropped Gustafsson to 1-3 over his past four fights, but the Swedish light heavyweight will look to begin his ascent back up the rankings. Blachowicz will look for his biggest win to date following a win over UFC veteran Igor Pokrajac.
Blachowicz was one of the most highly touted light heavyweights outside the UFC when he was signed to the promotion, but thus far he's only etched a 2-2 record. Now he'll look to add a marquee win to his name as he faces Gustafsson in Germany.
Also added to the card is a bantamweight showdown between British slugger Brad Pickett and former "Ultimate Fighter" Latin America cast member Henry Briones.
The two new bouts join a growing card headed to Hamburg with heavyweights Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski headlining the show.
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