New Zealand’s own Dan Hooker got a split decision (48-47, 48-47 & 48-47) victory over Paul Felder on Sunday. The win headlined “UFC on ESPN+ 26,” which took place at the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.
The fight saw high-tempo striking from both fighters throughout all of the rounds. The right eye of Felder started to close as the first round ended.
Hooker was the fighter consistently chasing a takedown, getting one to close out the fifth round.
Hooker came into this fight ranked seventh at lightweight, with Felder being one spot above.
“That might be it for me,” Felder said in his post-fight interview, mentioning how his four-year-old child misses him every time he leaves for a fight.
In-between rounds, Felder’s corner was encouraging him by telling him to get the win for his family.
Hooker called out Justin Gaethje after the fight. Gaethje is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division, which is three spots above Hooker.
This fight was the first time that both fighters had went more than three rounds in a mixed-martial-arts bout.
Felder’s last four fights were decisions, with three of those being split decisions.
In the co-main event of the show, Australian fighter Jimmy Crute stopped Michal Oleksiejczuk with a kimura in the first round.
Next weekend, UFC will head to Norfolk, Virginia, USA, for UFC on ESPN+ 27. The main event will see Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo fight for the vacant UFC Flyweight Championship.
Knockdown News 