A phenomenal lightweight fight has been added to UFC 243 with New Zealand’s Dan Hooker taking on Al Iaquinta.

The Kiwi called out Iaquinta after his most recent win and will now fight the American on the UFC’s blockbuster Melbourne event on October 6.

After reports had surfaced that the two had verbally agreed to fight, it was not until today that it could be confirmed that the matchup will take place at UFC 243. The news was first confirmed by the NZ Herald.

Hooker most recently knocked out James Vick in the first round in Texas this past July. He then demanded to join his City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya who fights Robert Whittaker for the middleweight title on the card.

Hooker called out Al Iaquinta as he was the only top-level lightweight without an opponent booked. Currently ranked number 6 in the UFC lightweight rankings, Iaquinta recently suffered a decision loss to Donald Cerrone.

A win for Hooker would see him jump into the top 10 of the UFC lightweight rankings for the first time in his career.

UFC 243 confirmed Fights

Middleweight championship:

Robert Whittaker (champion) v Israel Adesanya (interim champion)

Lightweight

Dan Hooker v Al Iaquinta

Heavyweight

Tai Tuivasa v Serghei Spivak

Bantamweight

Holly Holm v Raquel Pennington

Welterweight

Luke Jumeau v Dheigo Lima

Featherweight

Megan Anderson v Zarah Fairn Dos Santos

Welterweight

Jake Matthews v Rostem Akman

Flyweight

Nadia Kassem v Ji Yeon Kim

Heavyweight

Justin Tafa v Yorgan de Castro

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