File photo of Damien Brown (CREDIT: HUYNH NGUYEN (EMPEROR) / FIGHT NEWS AUSTRALIA)

Two former UFC fighters will face-off on the Rizin Fighting Federation New Years event spectacular with Damien Brown returning to action against Daron Cruickshank.

The card, Rizin 14, will take place at the acclaimed Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31.

After three losses on the trot, two of them by split decision, Brisbane based Brown (17-12) was released from the UFC earlier in the year with a 2-4 record within the promotion. Wins came over Cesar Arzamendia and Jon Tuck. The 33-year-old is a former XFC and Brace title holder and was eager to get on the Rizin card following his release, with Cruickshank in particular a fighter he expressed interest in facing.

“Beatdown” has got his wish!

Cruickshank was released from his UFC contract in March 2016 and it didn’t take long for Rizin to snap the 33-year-old up. He made his debut in the promotion the following month and has since gone on to accumulate a 6-2 record. His losses came back-to-back against Satoru Kitaoka and Yusuke Yachi however has gone on to win his last four fights with his last outing against Diego Brandao in September.

The Rizin New Years card is scheduled to feature Floyd Mayweather Jr. taking on Japanese youngster Tenshin Nasukawa however final rules of the contest have not been confirmed.