UFC flyweight Kai Kara-France is the latest New Zealander to be confirmed for the Fight Night card in Auckland on February 23.
Kara-France (20-8) will square off against experienced Hawaiian Tyson Nam (18-10) at Auckland's Spark Arena, joining City Kickboxing teammates Dan Hooker and Brad Riddell on the card.
"Fighting in Auckland was always the dream," he told Stuff. "I've missed out twice now, the second time it was close to happening but I was campaigning a little bit too late.
"I remember being there and visualising what it would be like to fight in front of my friends and family and to have that homecoming feeling. Now it's going to be happening."
The fight will take place, 10 weeks after his previous bout which ended in a disappointing decision defeat to Brandon Moreno at UFC 245 in Last Vegas, earlier this month.
Despite losing, Kara-France, the eighth-ranked flyweight, as eager to be involved, having missed out on the last two occasions.
The 26-year-old was in the stands last time the UFC held an event in New Zealand, when Mark Hunt knocked out Derrick Lewis in the headline act in 2017.
"I was campaigning to get on that card," he told Newshub earlier this month. "I think I fought three times in seven weeks, just to try and get on that card, but it was a bit too late.
"But it was probably a blessing in disguise, because it made me mature outside the UFC and learn those hard lessons. Now, here we are on big cards and the UFC is coming back to Auckland.
"I've always wanted to fight in my hometown."
