Jacob Malkoun has a name and a date for his UFC debut.
Sources close to the situation have confirmed with FNA that Malkoun will fight Phill Hawes at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.
4-0 in MMA and 3-0 in professional boxing, Malkoun is one of Robert Whittaker’s main training partners out of Gracie Smeaton Grange and Stand Strong Boxing in Sydney.
It will be Malkoun’s second trip to ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi after he cornered the former middleweight champion in his fight against Darren Till this past July.
Malkoun signed with the UFC while in quarantine soon after his return to Australia.
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Malkoun’s opponent, Phil Hawes, has an impressive record of 8-2 with a 100% finishing rate. Six of Hawes eight wins have come in the first round.
Hawes earned a contract with the UFC after picking up a first-round TKO victory on Dana White’s Contender Series. He will also be making his UFC debut when he steps into the cage in Abu Dhabi.
Malkoun will join his teammate Robert Whittaker who will fight Jarred Cannonair on the card.
UFC 254 will be headlined with a lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
Behind the scenes of UFC Fight Island with Fight News Australia
He now joins the former UFC middleweight champion in his second fight in Abu Dhabi as he takes on Jarred cannonair.
