UFC middleweight Anthony Hernandez will start his UFC career in January after hitting a regulatory snag.

The undefeated Hernandez (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been booked to face Markus Perez (10-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 233 on Jan. 26 from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The fight booking was first reported by Brazilian outlet Combate and confirmed to MMAjunkie by a person with knowledge of the situation.

The date is key for Hernandez, who technically is still under suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission after failing a post-fight drug test at Dana White’s Contender Series.

Hernandez earned a UFC contract with a 40-second knockout of Jordan Wright in June, but he was subsequently flagged for marijuana metabolites and suspended for six months. The commission did not disclose the amount of metabolites in his system but several years ago raised its threshold to 150 ng/ml from 50 ng/ml to better avoid punishments for legal out-of-competition use.

Hernandez’s win was subsequently overturned, and the fighter was fined $750 of his purse and attorney’s fees. Additionally, he was ordered to take drug tests at 30, 15 and 3 days from his next fight in Nevada and pay his fines prior to getting a new license in the state.

Perez, meanwhile, hopes to rebound from a competitive setback. He faced Andrew Sanchez at UFC Fight Night 135 and suffered a decision loss, bringing his octagon record to 1-2.

For more on UFC 233, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.