Dan Hooker Was Dominant Against Al Iaquinta, Superb Tactics!
UFC 243 PPV is taking place live now (Saturday, October 5, 2019) from inside Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The co-main event of the evening brings the lightweight bout between TUF 15 finalist “Raging” Al Iaquinta and the former AFC and SFC South-Pacific 155-pound king Dan “The Hangman” Hooker.
Dan Hooker wears gray/black shorts and a flag of New Zealand. Al Iaquinta is in black shorts. Our referee in charge of this contest is John Sharp. Here we go!
Round 1
Fighters touch gloves. Hooker has a reach advantage. Low kick Dan. Raging Al fires back with an overhand right. Low kick Dan.
Al feints a takedown then attacks with 1-2. Low kick Dan again. Left hook Al. Hooker jabs him over and over. Wow, superb right-hand counter by Al. Good trade on both sides.
Low kick Hooker, countered by a straight punch. Wow, low kick sends Al to the canvas, but he got up. Al caught a kick, and now he transitions to the single leg, takes Hooker down, but eats elbows. Iaquinta is turtled he ate so many elbows to the head. Hooker on the top!!!
Now back mount, fighters rolling down the canvas. Hooker caught his back, RNC attempt, Al defends well. No more body triangle, good defense by Al.
Iaquinta got up. Low kick again. Another low kick, Iaquinta fell down and got up. Big punch. High kick blocked. 10-9 Hooker.
Round 2
Al is on the distance, he switches stances. Wow, big punch by Iaquinta Hooker felt that! Low kick. Raging Al lands a low kick. Iaquinta misses with a high kick, not much action in the first minute and a half.
Low kick Hooker, Iaquinta goes down, Hooker shows him to get up. Iaquinta misses a takedown attempt. Big strikes. The body blows Al, followed by a big punch to the head.
Big kick to the body Hooker. Left hook. And now an exchange on both sides. 1-2 Al, countered by a low kick. Teep kick Hooker. Big right hand. Iaquinta goes for a takedown, Hooker counters him, fighters rolling down the canvas, Iaquinta is turtled, but Hooker is on his back. Foot stomps, both Octagon warriors on their feet. Hooker escapes, big left hand.
Wow, big right hand and Iaquinta is down!!!
The American is on his back, Hooker lands big shots!!! Transition attempt Al, it is stopped heel hook attempt. Dan defends well, 10-9 Hooker.
Round 3
Fighters touch gloves. Big right hand. Body shot. Left hook. Low kick Hooker, Iaquinta in the southpaw stance.
High kick blocked. Hooker counters him well. Ah, awesome low kick and left hand by Iaquinta. Big punch by Raging Al.
This elbow was strong, Iaquinta felt that!!! Body kick, Hooker fires back. Straight punch. Jab counter Hooker. Low kick to the leg again. Iaquinta was down for a second but he got up, Hooker let him.
Iaquinta runs forward, he is bleeding, his nose looks very bad. Low kick Al. Body shot. Big left by Hooker. Jabs are keeping Al on distance. Uppercut missed. 1-2 Hooker over and over. Last-minute of the match.
Left hand to the face. Hooker stays away from the fight, he only counters. Big low kick, Iaquinta goes down again, but Hooker didn’t follow up. Hooker jabs him. I think 10-9 Hooker.
Final Result: Dan Hooker defeats Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Check the highlights:
Hooker is all over Iaquinta early in round 1! #UFC243 pic.twitter.com/k4pSMaekcO
— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2019
Hooker sits Iaquinta down with a right hand! #UFC243 pic.twitter.com/HuWOxJWhhh
— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2019
NZ up 2-0 tonight!@DanTheHangman gets it done in dominant fashion at #UFC243 pic.twitter.com/cDL1a8BFlo
— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2019
Al Iaquinta drops to 14-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC, Dan Hooker improves the score to 19-8 MMA, 9-4 UFC.
