With plenty of stellar matchups on the horizon, another one in the lightweight division has been made for the UFC’s final show on primetime Fox.

After finding himself on the receiving end of two incredibly one-sided beatdowns, perennial top 10 contender Edson Barboza (19-6) is ready to try and rebound. But he’ll have to do so against one of the hungriest rising contenders in the division who has more than enough momentum to ride at the moment.

Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker (17-7) has confirmed to the NZHerald that he will be taking on Barboza at UFC on Fox 31 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 15.

“This is the fight I wanted,” Hooker told the NZHerald, “He is the guy in the top 10 that the other guys in the top 10 don’t want a bar of. I would fight anyone unranked as well. If they came and said ‘I’m the guy, I can beat Dan Hooker’ then congratulations, you got the fight. But no one stepped up; no one said it.

I chased him because I believe…he’s the toughest fight. I didn’t ask for Edson Barboza because I feel like that’s an easy way to get to the top, I think he’s going to bring a fight. I want a real test…and I feel like Edson Barboza is the man for the job.”

Auckland, New Zealand’s Hooker entered the UFC and returned to 145-pounds after fighting primarily at lightweight. Hooker went 3-3 until he decided to make the move back up to lightweight in June 2017 and he has since rattled off four very impressive wins a row.

Hooker’s streak consists of the names Gilbert Burns, Jim Miller, Marc Diakiese and Ross Pearson. All of whom Hooker finished (Diakiese being the only one to get submitted).

Currently ranked at No. 14 in the UFC’s official rankings, Hooker looks to make a big jump by taking out the No. 6 ranked Barboza.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/5/2018