Kiwi fight fans needed two decades before celebrating a homegrown UFC world champion, but if Dan Hooker has anything to say about it, they may not have to wait too long to celebrate a second.
The 30-year-old is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career against American Paul Felder in the headline act of UFC Auckland on Sunday - and the stakes are higher than ever.
Should the Aucklander - currently seventh in the official division rankings - have his hand raised, he'd likely enter hallowed territory where title shots are only ever a matter of a win or an injury withdrawal away.
"I'd become top five in the world and that's title contention," said Hooker. "That's another main event against a top-five fighter or a title shot.
"Those are the only two options from there."
Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson are set to square off in their at UFC 249 in April, a match-up that has already been derailed three times, due to injury and weight-cut complications.
Hooker is well aware that there's another late scratch is a very real possibility.
"I'll be ready," he says, with a grin. "I'll be ready."
While Israel Adesanya's global conquests have lead the new wave of Kiwi mixed martial arts talent, Hooker has steadily built a case for his own title tilt.
This weekend, Hooker will make his third entrance to Spark Arena, dating back to the promotion's NZ debut in 2014.
He's yet to taste an atmosphere like it, which is high praise from someone who fought in front of a record-breaking crowd of almost 60,000 people in Melbourne at UFC 243 last year.
"The two fights I've had in Auckland at that arena have been the loudest crowd I've ever experienced and I've fought in 13 UFC events, and I've been to countless others as a fan or a teammate.
"That crowd - how loud it gets - you can feel it. There's a difference... it kind of makes your bones shake.
"I see that even picking up for this fight."
Hooker campaigned his way on to that 2014 card by phoning into a talkback sports show and asking the in-studio UFC executive guest to give him a chance.
He was asked to send through a highlight reel and his wish was granted. Hooker marked the occasion by switching Ian Entwhistle's lights out with an elbow and the rest is history.
Now the sport's elder statesmen in this country and unofficial team captain at Auckland's City Kickboxing, Hooker's current reality seemed a dream to that raw 24-year-old.
"I was just a Kiwi kid - I never expected any of this, I just like to do this. I knew I wanted to do this with my life.
"There was no attention around the sport, no money around the sport - I just knew I wanted to do it.
"To now have grown and developed and progressed to this stage, while making a good living and providing for my family through this sport, is more than I could have ever asked for."
Hooker believes he's evolved immeasurably, as both a fighter and a human being, since that day in 2014, a growth you can almost track through his lengthy UFC tenure.
In stark contrast to stablemate Adesanya's dizzying ascent to the belt, Hooker's progression to the top has been more measured, but he's established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the division.
"You can see it when you watch [my past fights], I've grown as a fighter in the UFC like I don't think anyone else has. I've just matured in the Octagon.
"When you go back and see the fighter back then - I was rough, very green, not well rounded at all, but I have constantly developed and developed quickly.
"From the prelims, up slowly to the main card, pay-per-view in the US, co-main event and now main event... it's been a slow progression, but it means I'm really comfortable where I am now. It's not a huge jump."
Felder promises to be his most difficult test yet. The 17-4 'Irish Dragon' has a pressure-based style that's unapologetically aggressive, a product of his Philadelphia roots.
Capable and highly technical, without being exceptional in any one discipline, Felder makes his living off controlling the tempo of a fight and Hooker thinks he has precisely the antidote to the American's uncompromising style.
"I feel like I have more tools, more options as a fighter. If I can start to mix things up, I feel like he'll get stuck in the mud and become a bit stagnant.
"But the funny thing about this fight is everyone knows, he knows, we all know what he's going to try to do - he's going to walk forward and try to put the pressure on, and try to wear me down.
"It'll be very clear to all of you when the tide turns and he stops coming forward. When you see him start going backwards, something real bad's about to happen."
In a main-event bout scheduled for five rounds, instead of three, Hooker, who's amassed a staggering eight finishes from his nine UFC wins, will have the added bonus of two additional rounds to try and make that bad thing happen.
"I'm not a fighter that looks to set a pace, and try and wear guys down. I'm poison.
"I'm different when I get out there. I only need to sting you once and to have an extra 10 minutes to touch you one time - that's a lifetime inside that Octagon."
Sunday shapes as a landmark day for Hooker, who welcomes the added pressure of fighting in front of his loved ones as a chance to show off the fruits of his hard labour.
"When you turn that pressure tap on is when I'm at my best. Heap it on... I love it.
"For the last decade, I've been in the gym doing this. I don't feel the pressure - I get to go out there and showcase my skills.
"This is what it's all for. This is what everything comes down to."
Join us for live updates of UFC Auckland from 10am Sunday
