TORONTO -- Veteran Canadian fighter Patrick (The Predator) Cote is dropping down to welterweight.
"After a year of thinking and good talk with my coaches and nutritionist, it's time, my next fight will be at 170 Thanks for the support .UFC," Cote tweeted.
The 32-year-old from Montreal has fought 13 times over several stints in the UFC. All have been at middleweight (185 pounds) with the exception of his debut at UFC 50 in October 2004 when he fought Tito Ortiz at light-heavyweight as a late injury replacement.
Cote's 5-8 UFC resume includes a title loss to champion Anderson Silva at UFC 90 in October 2008, when the Canadian blew out his knee and was unable to continue.
Cote reached the final of Season 4 of "The Ultimate Fighter," which featured veterans making a comeback, but lost to Travis Lutter.
Cote (19-8) was slated to meet Italian middleweight Alessio Sakara next March in a rematch at UFC 158 in Montreal. A dazed Cote won when they met at UFC 154 at the Bell Centre in November after Sakara was disqualified for illegal blows to the head.
Sakara reportedly has dropped out of the next Montreal card due to illness.
