UFC Fight Night 39: John Howard vs. Ryan LaFlare possible for April 11 in Abu Dhabi

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has a welterweight match-up in the works pitting the recently re-signed John Howard against undefeated up-and-comer Ryan LaFlare for the upcoming UFC Fight Night 39 event, scheduled for April 11, 2014 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Mike Chiappetta brought word of the pending match-up earlier today.

Howard (22-8) was invited back to the Octagon to trade leather with Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17 runner-up Uriah Hall. After taking home a unanimous decision victory at UFC Fight Night 26 back in August, "Doomsday" followed it up by out-pointing Siyar Bahadurzada at UFC 168 last December.

But the competition only gets harder.

LaFlare (10-0) was called up to the big show after cleaning out the ranks in Ring of Combat (ROC). Since then, he's kept his unbeaten streak alive, securing three straight unanimous decision wins over the likes of Court McGee, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Ben Alloway.

Time to sink or swim.

UFC Fight Night 39 will be headlined by a heavyweight showdown against hard-hitting grapplers Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson, and will likely stream on the promotion's new "Fight Pass" digital network. More fight announcement are expected in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.