The WEC announced today via it's official Twitter page that Jamie Varner would defend his lightweight belt against interim lightweight champion Benson Henderson at World Extreme Cagefighting 46: Varner vs Henderson on January 10. The event is scheduled for the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. They also confirmed the rumored match up between Urijah Faber and Rafael Assuncao for the event.

Varner has held the WEC lightweight title since he won it from Rob McCullough in February of 2008, defending it twice against Marcus "The Wrecking Ball" Hicks and Donald Cerrone, respectively. Since defeating Cerrone, Varner has been sidelined with injuries suffered in the fight.

Henderson has gone undefeated in his WEC career, including a recent victory over Donald Cerrone in a bout for the WEC interim lightweight belt. The WEC had wanted to have him fight Varner to merge the belts in December, however injuries sustained against Cerrone forced the bout to be pushed back to the current date.

Source: mmafrenzy.com