Former heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee is returning to the UFC.

Duffee (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will meet Phil De Fries (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at UFC 155, this year’s version of the annual New Year’s Eve weekend card in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

UFC officials confirmed the booking Wednesday afternoon. Duffee’s reunion with the UFC is as unexpected as his release from the promotion in May 2010.

The UFC cut Duffee after he lost in shocking fashion to Mike Russow at UFC 114. Duffee dominated the fight for 12 minutes before Russow knocked him out cold in the third round with a right hand.

He went on to split two fights out of the UFC, losing by knockout to Alistair Overeem and knocking out Neil Grove.

UFC 155 is scheduled for Dec. 29. The card is headlined by a heavyweight championship rematch between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, with a light heavyweight bout pairing Forrest Griffin and Phil Davis as the co-main event.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.