Kiwi local, Dan Hooker will once again headline the upcoming UFC Fight Night taking place Sunday 28 June. He’ll take on the former interim lightweight champion, and a fan favourite, Dustin Poirier.
Hooker, the number five contender, was one half of the main event at UFC Auckland which took place earlier this year. Hooker took on Paul Felder, a five round battle that earned him a shot at Poirier, who currently sits at the top of the category.
Poirier’s last bout was a defeat at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout. Prior to this, Poirier was on an impressive four fight win streak before that, earning him interim gold. Previous wins have come over the likes of Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis.
Hooker has been on a streak. Winning seven from eight of his last fights since moving up from featherweight, and rebounded from the lass against Edson Barboza at the end of 2018.
The original bout between Hooker and Poirier was scheduled for May this year, but due to coronavirus, the bout was rescheduled. Sunday June 28th, the bout will take place in Las Vegas at the Apex centre in what will be a fan-less event and will be broadcasted out live.
In the welterweight division, Mike Perry will go up against Mickey Gall. In what will be a crucial fight for both, Gall is out to gain some momentum. Securing two wins from his last four bouts, Perry will likely be the most well rounded fighter that Gall will have faced in his professional career to date,
Gall has also made comments about the new that Perry would be abandoning traditional training methods.
“I don’t think it’s a very bright idea, but I don’t think Mike’s the brightest guy. It’s kind of an appropriate move. Not shocking. I don’t know what to make of it. I’m not putting too much stock into that, because it’s going to be a fight. It’s a fight and it’s me and him in there. I’m going to have a great corner of coaches. Real, legit coaches and he might not. But that doesn’t make a difference. It’s just going to be us in there.”
In what is heating up to be a real duel between some of the heavy hitters of the category, the winner should come out this with an optimistic look at their climb to the top.
MAIN CARD
Lightweight Bout
Dustin Poirier vs Dan Hooker
UNDER CARD
Welterweight Bout
Mike Perry vs Mickey Gall
Middleweight Bout
Ian Heinisch vs Brendan Allen
Heavyweight Bout
Gian Villante vs Maurice Greene
Women’s Bantamweight Bout
Aspen Ladd vs Sara McMann
Lightweight Bout
Luis Pena vs Khama Worthy
Heavyweight Bout
Philipe Lins vs Tanner Boser