UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has drawn his first headliner opportunity opposite Shamil Abdurakhimov on Dec. 9 in Albany, New York.
Officials have announced the heavyweight bout as the main event of UFC Fight Night at Times Union Center.
Lewis (16-4) has been trending in the direction of a high-profile fight all year. The 31-year-old is now 7-2 overall in the UFC, including a 3-0 mark in 2016. He is coming off a split-decision win over Roy Nelson in July.
Fighting out of Houston, Lewis has steadily gained fan support, thanks in large part to his style. The hard-hitting heavyweight has finished six of his seven UFC wins by knockout, including four in the first round.
Abdurakhimov (17-3), of Dagestan, south of Russia, is fresh off a split decision over Walt Harris on Oct. 1 in Portland, Oregon. He is 2-1 since signing with the UFC last year.
The televised UFC Fight Night event will be held less than one month after UFC 205, the promotion's blockbuster card at Madison Square Garden. The UFC has not held an event in New York since 1995, because of a ban on professional mixed martial arts that lasted from 1997 until earlier this year.
