Rawlings last fought at UFC Adelaide, where she dominated American Lisa Ellis on the feet before submitting her with a rear-naked choke with just 51 seconds remaining in the first round.

However that fight was in May 2015, and since that time Rawlings has struggled with an unusual, painful injury.

Rawlings was scheduled to fight Scottish fighter Joanne Calderwood in Glasgow on July 2015 when she began experiencing pain in her hip and groin.

An MRI revealed a 13mm stress fracture in the neck of her femur, an injury normally associated with runners and military trainees, requiring Rawlings to stay off her feet for several months.

However after intense rehabilitation Rawlings (6-4, 1-1 UFC), a striker with an extremely solid chin and a tricky ground game, is now ready to face Ham (16-1, 1-1 UFC), a former Deep Jewels 106 pound champion.

Rawlings will have a four-inch height advantage over the diminutive Ham, who is renowned for pushing forward with wild hooks, reminiscent of Brazilian great Wanderlai Silva, leading to her nickname, Hamderlai Silva.

The two were scheduled to fight at UFC Adelaide however Ham pulled out with an undisclosed injury.

A win over Ham would propel Rawlings up the rankings and may leave the door open for her to face Calderwood, who is considered a prospect in the strawweight division.

UFC Brisbane will be headlined by a five-round fight between American Frank Mir and Mark Hunt, who has just applied for Australian citizenship after living in Australia for 21 years, with welterweight contenders Neil Magny and Hector Lombard meeting in the co-main event.

Tickets go on sale to the public on February 4 through ticketek.com.au.