Kiwi Mixed Martial Arts fans are set to be treated to plenty of action at UFC Fight Night Auckland.
The third UFC event to be staged in New Zealand comes just a week since Israel Adesanya won the Sportsman of the Year award at the Halberg's.
Adesanya's rise to prominence has coincided with a surge of popularity of combat sports in New Zealand, and Sunday's fight card adds to that.
"The Last Stylebender's" City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker headlines the event in a highly-anticipated lightweight title eliminator against American Paul Felder.
There is no love lost between the two and the stakes are high with the winner likely to be on the doorstep of a UFC title shot later in the year.
The two have shared many an intense moment during the build-up to the fight, but for Hooker, it's the fight before the fight.
"I like that sort of thing - getting in each other's faces and letting him feel - letting him feel your intention," Hooker said.
It's almost three years since "The Hangman '' fought on home shores - a stunning knockout win over Brit Ross Pearson. But his return comes with the sport on the verge of exploding into the mainstream of New Zealand sport.
"I'm providing for my family through this sport and the attention around the sport is incredible - it's more than I could have ever asked for."
Hooker's not the only one local fans will be cheering for come Sunday.
Kai Kara France, Brad Riddell and Ben Sosoli will all take to the Octagon with plenty of Kiwi pride on the line.
"Pretty much a dream come true," Kara-France said during the week.
I fought - you know this will be my fifth fight in the UFC - but this is definitely on my bucket list to fight at home."
Three of the four Kiwis are based out of Eugene Bareman's City Kickboxing which houses UFC middleweight champion Adesanya.
And even though Adesanya isn't fighting tomorrow, he's more than ready to impress the home fans himself when the opportunity comes.
The charismatic Nigerian born Kiwi wants to defend his newly won title in New Zealand sooner than later.
"Yeah it's going to happen - eventually I'll definitely defend the belt on these shores," Adesanya declared.
A fight of that magnitude would surely take the fanfare for MMA in New Zealand to yet another level.
