Dustin Poirier and Anthony Pettis to headline UFC Fight Night Norfolk:

Poirier (left) landing clean on former champ Alvarez.

An incredibly exciting Lightweight bout between Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier and former UFC and WEC champ Anthony Pettis has been confirmed as the headliner for UFC Fight Night Norfolk with almost certain title implications imminent for the winner.

Poirier, has made an eye catching surge at 155lbs after a final Featherweight loss to Conor McGregor, amassing 5 wins before a stunning knockout loss to Michael Johnson. Last featuring at UFC 211 against former champ Eddie Alvarez, the Louisiana striker was close to the biggest win of his professional career, before an illegal knee forced an controversial stoppage, and eventual no contest. It was believed that both Poirier and Alvarez would run it back but with The Ultimate Fighter season 26 commitments for Alvarez coaching against the undefeated Justin Gaethje, the #8 ranked Poirier has been pitted against Pettis, who is looking to re-establish himself at Lightweight, his previous stomping ground.

Milwaukee favourite 'Showtime' Pettis tried his luck at Featherweight after three consecutive losses to Rafael Dos Anjos, the aforementioned Alvarez and Muay Thai expert Edson Barboza. With a surprising guillotine win over Charles Oliveira, next came a controversial Interim Featherweight title bout alongside Max Holloway at UFC 206, where the striker missed weight, making him ineligible to win championship gold if he overcame 'Blessed', but was convincingly stopped in the final seconds of the 3rd round via strikes. Returning to Lightweight in his most recent octagon walk, Pettis faced long time contender Jim Miller, and looked composed, creative and slick on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

Both men are slick strikers with Poirier a well rounded boxer, while Pettis is a Taekwondo and Muay Thai expert so this one surely guarantees fireworks as Poirier looks to claim a win over a former division champ, and make tracks toward a Conor McGregor rematch, while Pettis is vying to reinstate himself among the Lightweight elite with a comprehensive victory.

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