Dan Hooker no longer has to worry about patrolling the doors of Auckland bars.
The UFC featherweight is enjoying his newfound freedom as a fulltime fighter after his impressive first-round TKO win over Ian Entwistle in his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 43 at Vector Arena last month.
The 24-year-old, known as "The Hangman", took time off his job as a doorman to train for his bout with Entwistle but victory meant a greater purse and the knowledge he was likely to get another chance to fight in the UFC.
That opportunity will come on September 20 with confirmation Hooker will meet Venezuelan Maximo Blanco at UFC Fight Night 52 at the Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo.
The Japanese card will be headlined by Kiwi heavyweight Mark Hunt, who will meet American Roy Nelson in a long-awaited bout between two of the heaviest hitters.