Undefeated prospect Benito Lopez announces UFC debut vs. Morales

Another bantamweight discovery has his first UFC dance partner.

Undefeated prospect Benito Lopez announced Saturday on Twitter he'll face Albert Morales in his maiden voyage to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9 in Fresno, Calif.

The Team Alpha Male product earned his roster spot this past August with a hard-earned split decision over the gritty Steven Peterson in Week 7 of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series - where fellow bantamweight blue-chippers Boston Salmon and Sean O'Malley also earned UFC contracts. He makes his UFC debut with a professional record of 8-0, including five first-round stoppages.

Morales, 26, has gone 1-2-1 under the UFC banner, most recently dropping a lopsided decision to Brett Johns at UFC Fight Night 113 in July.

The card will feature another clash of California natives in the featherweight main event at Save Mart Center, where Cub Swanson takes on the undefeated Brian "T-City" Ortega.