Kiwi UFC fighter Daniel Hooker will take on veteran lightweight Ross Pearson from the UK at UFC Fight Night in Auckland on June 10.
The 27-year-old is jumping up from the featherweight division where he racked up a three win, three loss record over the course of three years, including a stoppage win over Japanese legend Hatsu Hioki iin Adelaide in 2015.
Pearson, 32, won the Ultimate Fighter reality show back in 2009 and has chalked up 11 wins in 22 UFC fights, including wins over Gray Maynard and Dennis Siver.
The Brit is looking to bounce back from the worst losing streak of his professional career, coming up short against Will Brooks, Jorge Masvidal and Stevie Ray.
Hooker lost last time out in a slugfest with American Jason Knight, and has traded wins and losses since his UFC debut win against Ian Entwistle in Auckland in 2014.
The 'Hangman' has never lost a UFC fight held in Australia or New Zealand, whilst Pearson is 2-1 in fights held across the Tasman.
The card will be main evented by New Zealand-born Mark Hunt and American Derrick Lewis in a heavyweight fight.
The event, to be held at Vector Arena, will also feature two middleweight title contenders battling it out as Australian Olympic judo medallist Daniel Kelly will take on Derek Brunson.
Former flyweight title challengers Joseph Benavidez and John Moraga have also been announced for the event, with the former fighting Australian prospect Ben Nguyen and the latter taking on Ashkan Mokhtarian.
Additional bouts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Newshub.
