The UFC announced Friday that an exciting matchup between lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker will headline the organization’s upcoming June 27 event at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Poirier is the No. 3-ranked contender in the 155-pound division, while Hooker sits at No. 5.
“This is an important fight for both guys,†UFC president Dana White said while unveiling the card. “Obviously Poirier wants to get a shot at that title and if Hooker comes in and beats Poirier, he has finally arrived, he is one of the top five guys in the world and on his way to a title fight.â€
Hooker (20-8) is riding a three-fight winning streak with his most recent victory being a five-round Fight of the Night barnburner against Paul Felder in February. The training partner of middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has won seven of his past eight overall with five coming by stoppage. He even has a knockout win over pending welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns.
Poirier (25-6, one no-contest) hasn’t fought since being submitted by undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in September 2019. Prior to that, the former interim titleholder had pulled off consecutive wins over former lightweight champions Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, current interim champ Justin Gaethje and former featherweight champion Max Holloway.
The UFC also confirmed a number of undercard bouts for what is shaping up to be a fan-friendly card.
Mickey Gall, who gained notoriety in 2016 by welcoming former WWE superstar CM Punk to the UFC, is taking a big step up in competition when the 6-2 fighter meets fellow welterweight Mike Perry.
Perry has dropped five of his last seven but his level of competition in the UFC has been significantly more difficult than Gall’s – on paper at least.
Middleweight Ian Heinisch is making a quick turnaround after he beat Gerald Meerschaert in 74 seconds at UFC 250 earlier in the month. He faces rising prospect Brendan Allen, a winner of six straight.
Top-10 women’s bantamweight contenders Aspen Ladd and Olympic silver medallist wrestler Sara McMann both look to build off the wins they earned in their most recent fights. If Ladd (9-1) earns an impressive victory, you could potentially start to hear her name mentioned as a future challenger to reigning champion Amanda Nunes.
Canadian featherweight Kyle Nelson of Huntsville, Ont., is set to take on Sean Woodson. Nelson earned his first UFC win his last time out when he TKO’d Polos Reyes in September.
Also, Alberta’s Tanner Boser is slated to fight Brazil’s Philip Lins on the prelims in a heavyweight bout.
