Dan Hooker reportedly set to return to the octagon at UFC 281

Dan Hooker and Claudio Puelles are reportedly set to throw down at UFC 281 on November 12. Hooker is the No.13-ranked lightweight contender, while Puelles will aim to break into the top 15 hierarchy with a victory over 'The Hangman'.

News of the bout was first reported by Twitter user @FordewinMMA and later confirmed by Puelles' management team, Iridium Sports Agency.

Hooker is returning to the lightweight division here after a brief return to featherweight in his last outing.

Puelles is riding a five-fight winning streak heading into this contest after initially falling short in his UFC debut. He last competed on the April 23 UFC Fight Night when he stopped Clay Guida by way of kneebar in the first round.

'The Hangman' looks to snap his two-fight losing skid and halt Puelles' winning streak in the process. Hooker fell short to Islam Makhachev and Arnold Allen last October and in March, respectively.

Dan Hooker has an overall mixed martial arts record of 21 wins opposite 12 defeats. Claudio Puelles, meanwhile, has an MMA resume of 12 wins and two losses.

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Dan Hooker and how UFC 281 is shaping up

If this report is made official, Hooker versus Puelles would join what looks to be a stacked card. Another rumored contest for that card is a highly consequential clash at 155 pounds that could be a possible lightweight title eliminator between Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier.

Hooker's City Kickboxing compatriot Israel Adesanya headlines the card and looks to notch the sixth defense of his middleweight world title against a familiar foe. Surging 185 pounder Alex Pereira will take on Adesanya for the first time under MMA rules. Pereira has previously bested 'The Last Stylebender' twice under kickboxing rules.

It's not the only title fight on that card, though, as the co-main event will see the women's 115-pound title defended. Carla Esparza looks to notch the first defense of her second reign as UFC strawweight world champion and aims to do so against former titleholder Weili Zhang.

The UFC 281 pay-per-view event will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.