Dan Hooker will return to the Octagon and will share it again with Afghanistan fighter Nasrat Haiqparast.
Hooker (20-10) will take on Haqparast (13-0-1) at UFC 266 Live Stream on September 25. The main event will feature a bout between Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight) and Brian Ortega.
Hooker last fought at UFC 257.
He was defeated that night by Michael Chandler, his former title challenger. Chandler, a former Bellator lightweight champion defeated him by knockout in round one.
He has not fought since then.
According to interviews, he had even considered retirement. However, that plan appears to have been put on hold.
Haqparast has been fighting in UFC since 2004. He has five wins and two losses, but currently has two winning streaks. He fought at UFC Fight Night 187 the last time he fought. He defeated Rafa Garcia via unanimous decision.
He had an eight-fight winning streak before UFC and won all of his victories via TKO/KO. Hooker is a highly experienced fighter and he can defeat him to move up in the lightweight division.
UFC 266 will host two title fights.
Valentina Shevchenko, Lauren Murphy and Lauren Murphy will be defending their titles in the co-main event.
After 17 years, Nick Diaz will be sharing the octagon with Robbie Lawler for the second consecutive time. Their first encounter was in 2004, when Diaz defeated Lawler via knockout. This fight will be the second in five rounds of the UFC. It will not be the main or the title fight.
Merab Dvalishvili will face Brazilian Marlon Morais. Dvalishvili will spar with current bantamweight champion Aljamain Silver.
Dvalishvili is more likely than not to win the contest.
These are the matchups for UFC 266.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy
Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler
Jessica Andrade vs. Cynthia Calvillo
Curtis Blaydes and Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Dan Hooker vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Marlon Moraes vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Manon Fiorot vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
Uros Medic vs. Jalin Turner
Nick Maximov vs. Karl Roberson
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus
Matt Semelsberger vs. Martin Sano Jr.