Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker Planned for UFC Headliner on June 27th.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC & USA TODAY Sports

A highly-anticipated pairing between former interim UFC lightweight titleholder, Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier, and Dan 'The Hangman' Hooker are expected for rescheduling for a UFC event on June 27th. - taking headlining honours.

Both Poirier and Hooker were tentatively paired for a cancelled UFC Fight Night San Diego event in May, however, the entire card was shelved due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Lafayette native, Poirier will make his first appearance since undergoing hip surgery, and his unification title defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov back in September at UFC 242. New Zealand native, Hooker, currently sits at #5 in the 155-pound rankings - following a razor-thin split decision win over Paul 'The Irish Dragon' Felder. News of the targeted matching was initially reported by Combate reporter, Raphael Marinho.

Creative boxer, Poirier - has found some real significant success at lightweight in recent times, scoring an impressive four-fight rise before his defeat to Khabib - which included four former, or current world champions. 

Opening up his winning stride, Poirier submitted former WEC and UFC lightweight best, Anthony Pettis with a body triangle, before a penultimate round knockout of recently minted interim best, Justin Gaethje. In a rematch with former Bellator and UFC 155-pound gold-holder, Eddie Alvarez - Poirier scored a late second-round stoppage via strikes. Earning interim spoils, 'The Diamond' dislodged Max Holloway in his lightweight birth - the second time in his career he scored a victory over 'Blessed'. 

Similarly to expected opponent, Poirier - Hooker has established incredible success since his move to lightweight. Scoring four straight triumphs, the 30-year-old notched wins over Ross Pearson, Marc Diakiese, Jim Miller, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Gilbert 'Durinho' Burns. In a brutal stoppage, Hooker dropped a third-round knockout to blitzing Muay Thai ace, Edson Barboza. 

In a three-fight rise, the Auckland born striker managed a knockout win over James Vick, longtime lightweight challenger, 'Ragin' Al Iaquinta, and the aforementioned Felder. A victory for either Poirier or Hooker immediately instates them into title contention.