Former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner will likely face rising prospect Kamal Shalorus on the main card of the promotion's pay-per-view debut at WEC 48 in April. News of the bout was first reported by MMAWeekly.com.

Varner (16-3) most recently lost his WEC lightweight crown against then-interim champion Benson Henderson in a title unification bout at last month's WEC 46. It was the first fight for the Arizona Combat Sports product in a year due to hand and foot injuries that had plagued him.

Prior to the loss, Varner won five straight bouts, which included wins in his first four WEC fights against Sherron Leggett, Rob McCullough, Marcus Hicks and Donald Cerrone.

Shalorus has impressed many in his first two fights with the WEC. First, he scored an 86-second knockout win over Will Kerr in his WEC debut in November at WEC 44, and he most recently notched a unanimous decision win over Dave Jansen at WEC 46 in January.

The King of Kombat and Extreme Challenge veteran has put together an unbeaten 6-0-1 MMA record since making his pro debut in April 2008. He scored stoppages in all but one of his six wins, including four by TKO. The Iranian wrestled for England in the 2004 summer Olympics, and was once ranked among the top 10 in the world in freestyle wrestling.

WEC 48: "Aldo vs. Faber" takes place on April 24 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The event is headlined by a WEC featherweight championship bout between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Urijah Faber.

In addition, WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson will take on Donald Cerrone in a rematch from their previous "Fight of the Year" candidate at WEC 43 in October. Also, former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown will look to get back on the winning track against the streaking Manny Gamburyan.