Gallery Nasrat Haqparast def. Joaquim Silva at UFC on ESPN 5: Best photos view 19 images

A pair of hard hitting lightweights will square off on Jan. 18.

Nasrat Haqparast (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will face Drew Dober (21-9-1 MMA, 7-5-1 UFC) on Jan. 18, in a card which is yet to formally have a location set but is expected to take place in Las Vegas. A person with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the contest but requested anonymity since the UFC has yet to make an announcement.

After dropping his UFC debut, the surging Haqparast has won his last three in a row, scoring his first UFC finish in a second-round knockout over Joaquim Silva at August’s UFC on ESPN 5. He will look to continue his assent in the lightweight rankings when he takes on Dober.

Meanwhile, training out of Elevation Fight Team, Dober is coming off a first-round finish over Marco Polo Reyes at June’s UFC on ESPN 3, and has won four of his last five fights.