In 2014, Dan Hooker ended his UFC debut at the Spark Arena in his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand via first-round TKO. Almost six years later, “The Hangman” headlined his first UFC card in the same building and scored a huge win via split decision against number six-ranked Paul Felder.
The two fought five hard rounds, landing more than a hundred strikes on each other. The performance also earned both fighters an extra $50,000 for Fight of the Night honors.
With the victory likely spurring him up the rankings, Hooker is now looking at a higher-ranked opponent for his next fight.
“I got my eye on someone. I want the battle of the highlight reel, I want Justin Gaethje next,” Hooker told Dan Hardy during his Octagon interview. “Let’s go.”
The number four-ranked Gaethje is currently on a three-fight streak, with all of those victories ending in the first round.
Hooker himself has won three straight, as he now improves to a record of 20-8 (with 17 wins by stoppage).