UFC newcomer Justin Gaethje could face former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez later this year.

After Justin Gaethje's pulsating UFC debut against Michael Johnson at The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, the head MMA promotion is looking to book 'The Highlight' against one of the lightweight division's most exciting fighters: Eddie Alvarez.

That's according to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, who reported yesterday that the UFC is looking to book Gaethje vs. Alvarez later this year, with a possible stint on TUF 26.

Dustin Poirier, the man who fought Alvarez in a highly controversial fight at UFC 211 (referee Herb Dean ruled the bout a no contest despite Alvarez landing a series of illegal knees in the second round), is not happy with the UFC's plans.

'The Diamond' wanted a rematch with 'The Underground King' to settle the score, and tweeted how 'messed up' the situations is.

Alvarez, a former multi-promotion MMA champ, lost the UFC lightweight belt to Conor McGregor at UFC 205 last year. The Philadelphia local is one of the most accomplished fighters in the division and will look inch closer to another title shot with a win over Gaethje.

Gaethje, the former WSOF 155-pound kingpin, likely earned scores of fans with his TKO of Johnson last week and is hoping to put on another spectacular performance against Alvarez.

“Who’s in front of me? I want to go forward. Eddie Alvarez is in front of me," Gaethje told Helwani on a recent edition of The MMA Hour (h/t Adam Guillen Jr. of MMA Mania). I want to fight the best in the world. I am a huge fan of Eddie Alvarez and nothing would make me more happy than to challenge that guy and to get beat up by him or beat him up."

If Gaethje and Alvarez are to feature on TUF, their bout probably won't take place until late in the year, possibly in the fall. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for further updates.