Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza First Fight Announced for UFC on FOX

Event will take place November 12 in Anaheim, California

It didn’t take long for the UFC to start making things official for their first event on FOX.

Just a day after announcing the monumental deal, the organization confirmed the event will take place Saturday, November 12 in Anaheim, California. UFC President Dana White had suggested the city that hosted UFC 121 would be the destination during yesterday’s events.

In addition to confirming the location, the UFC also announced the first match-up that will be a part of the historic card. Dustin Poirier and Pablo Garza will meet in a battle of surging featherweights on the preliminary portion of the event.

Poirier has had a strong year in 2011; he’s come from relative obscurity to become a potential star. The Louisiana native started the year with an upset win over then-#1 contender Josh Grispi at UFC 125, then followed it up in June with a unanimous decision victory over Jason Young at UFC 131 in Vancouver. He’s also received an added boost in recognition from his starring turn in the critically acclaimed documentary Fightville.

It’s fitting that Garza is part of the first bout announced for this event, as he’s become something of regular in the UFC record books over the last 12 months.

A former Ultimate Fighter hopeful – he lost in to finalist Michael Johnson in the qualifying round of Season 12 – Garza competed in the first featherweight bout in UFC history back at the show’s finale in December 2010. He also took part in the first UFC fight in the province of Ontario as well, kicking off UFC 129 in Toronto with a flying triangle finish of Canadian Yves Jabouin.

Both incurred the lone losses of their careers fighting under the WEC banner; Poirier losing to Danny Castillo, while Garza was submitted by Tiequan Zhang. They’re a combined 4-0 in the UFC.

Be sure to keep checking HeavyMMA for all your UFC fight announcements.

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