A high-profile welterweight scrap has been set for the first quarter of 2014.

Perennial contender Jake Shields will take on former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard at UFC 171, set for March 15 American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

ESPN first reported the news on Sunday morning.

Lombard, who has competed as heavy as light heavyweight, made his welterweight debut against Nate Marquardt at UFC 166 in October, scoring a blistering first-round knockout.

“Lightning” has a pedestrian 2-2 record inside the Octagon after an incredible 25-fight unbeaten streak between February 2007 and November 2011.

As for Shields, the no. 7 welterweight in the UFC’s official rankings, the Cesar Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt catapulted himself back into title contention with an upset victory over fellow renowned grappler Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 29 in October.

Shields, a former Strikeforce middleweight titleholder, met UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129 after the challenger racked up 15 straight victories.

The Tennessee native lost a decision to GSP, then suffering a brutal knockout to Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 25 in September 2011.

After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, Shields has since rebounded by compiling a 3-0(1) record in his past four bouts.

A victory for either Lombard or Shields would put them on the short list of contenders at 170 pounds.

UFC 171 is headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and new challenger Glover Teixeira.