UFC Norfolk has found its main event according to trainer Duke Roufus, who announced Anthony Pettis will headline against Dustin Poirier.
Roufusport head coach Duke Roufus announced the UFC Norfolk main event on his Instagram.
Although Dustin Poirier was not given a well-deserved rematch with Eddie Alvarez after their unfortunate no contest, he will headline an event for the third time in his career against the equally-entertaining Anthony Pettis. The lightweights will come into this bout from opposite directions, as Poirier has won five of his last seven (one no contest), and Pettis has lost four of his last six fights.
Dustin Poirier has been excellent since moving up to the lightweight division in 2015. “Diamond” rattled off four-straight decisive wins to establish himself as a true top-ten contender at 155-pounds. Poirier was knocked down a few pegs after suffering a first-round knockout defeat to Michael Johnson, but bounced back with an impressive Fight of the Night against Jim Miller. The Louisiana native was also getting the better of former champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 211 before their fight was stopped due to illegal knees from Alvarez.
Anthony Pettis lived up to high expectations after transitioning to the UFC from the WEC with their lightweight title around his waist in 2011. “Showtime” won three straight bouts after losing in his debut and earned a title shot against the man he defeated to win the WEC title, Benson Henderson. Pettis took home the title again with a first round armbar, and defended the belt once before hitting a rough patch in his career. The Milwaukee native lost three straight bouts, then went to featherweight where he went 1-1, with the loss being an interim title fight. Pettis now looks to reclaim his top spot in the lightweight division after defeating Jim Miller at UFC 213.
The full UFC Norfolk card, scheduled for November 11, is as follows:
- Dustin Poirier vs. Anthony Pettis
- Jared Cannonier vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
- Nate Marquardt vs. Cezar Ferreira
- Karl Roberson vs. Darren Stewart
- Marcel Fortuna vs. Jake Collier
