Adam Milstead makes the drop to light heavyweight for the first time in his UFC career to take on undefeated Jordan Johnson on March 3 at UFC 222 in Las Vegas. UFC officials announced the pairing Tuesday. 

Milstead (8-1, one no-contest) is coming off an initial second-round defeat to Curtis Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 104 in February 2017. 

In that fight, Milstead blew out his knee, requiring surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. After the fight, in which Blaydes was originally declared the victor via TKO, Blaydes tested positive for marijuana, and the result was overturned to a no-contest. 

The move to 205 marks Milstead's first since his pro debut in May 2011, when he lost while fighting with a broken jaw against Dane Bonnigson under the NAAFS banner. 

"I miss the taste of beer, and because of that, Jordan must pay," Milstead told FloCombat of his drop to light heavyweight. 

Meanwhile, Johnson, a former Division I wrestler out of the University of Iowa, is a perfect 11-0 between his amateur and professional career. He was 6-0 and the RFA light heavyweight champion before jumping to the UFC, where he rattled off back-to-back victories via unanimous decision in 2017. 

"Adam did a great job at getting finished in his last fight at heavyweight," Johnson told FloCombat. "I'm certain he’ll do an even better job in his next fight at light heavyweight.”

Currently, UFC 222 is headlined by a featherweight title fight between champion Max Holloway and challenger Frankie Edgar. 

UFC 222 Fight Card (not final/subject to change)

Max Holloway (c) vs. Frankie Edgar (for UFC featherweight title)
C. B. Dollaway vs. Hector Lombard
Stefan Struve vs. Andrei Arlovski
Ashley Yoder vs. Mackenzie Dern
Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira
Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath
Bryan Caraway vs. Cody Stamann
Jordan Johnson vs. Adam Milstead