UFC Fight Night Auckland has its latest addition, with Kiwi Brad Riddell confirming to Newshub a lightweight match-up against Russian Magomed Mustafaev.
'Quake' made a successful debut inside the Octagon, pummeling a game Jamie Mullarkey via decision in Melbourne at UFC 243 in October.
After that three-round bout, Riddell was desperate to get on the Auckland card, but also keen to test himself against a formidable opponent.
The UFC matchmakers have obliged, offering the Christchurch-born former rugby prospect a fight against Mustafaev.
With 15 wins in 17 professional fights, the Dagestani represents the toughest fight of Riddell's career. Mustafaev holds a 3-1 record in the UFC - his only blemish came against perennial top-10 contender American Kevin Lee.
"He's very dangerous," Riddell told Newshub. "He has good spinning attacks.
"He's a big hitter and he's been wrestling since he was a young fella, and he will bring out the best in me.
"I can't wait to get in the trenches with him."
Riddell, 28, not only won his UFC debut, he and his Australian opponent also won US$50,000 each for the fight of the night.
The City Kickboxing prospect believes those 15 minutes proved why he belongs in the premier mixed martial arts organisation.
"Jamie was awesome to fight. It was fun and we brought the best out in both of us, and if he wasn't the type of man or fighter that he is, we wouldn't have won that bonus.
"Once I get in there to fight, it all seems very familiar, because it's where I want to be. I want to be in there - I want to fight - I don't really care about anything else that is going on around me."
With his Auckland gym housing world-class talent, including UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, top-10 UFC lightweight Dan Hooker and the No.7 flyweight Kai Kara-France, Riddell is in elite company.
And the gym's trophy cabinet is set to add new gold next weekend, if Australian Alex Volkanovski can topple UFC featherweight champion Max Hollaway in Las Vegas. Riddell has been impressed by his teammate's focus in camp and is predicting victory for 'The Great'.
"My training partner is going to win a world title in a few days. He looks the best I have ever seen and that's saying a lot, because he always trains at such a high level.
"He has such a crazy work ethic, he's freakishly strong and always listens. We found ourselves slowing him down at times.
"He can over-train, because he is such a focused individual and this is what he has wanted for his whole life."
A win for Volkanovski would mark the first time an MMA gym outside of the United States or Brazil held two UFC world titles at the same time.
UFC Fight Night Auckland card:
Main event - Dan Hooker v Paul Felder
Tyson Pedro v Vinicus Moreira
Ben Sosoli v Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Magomed Mustafav v Brad Riddell
