In the co-main event of UFC on FOX 31, lightweights Dan Hooker and Edson Barboza squared off in hopes of moving up the 155-pound ranks.
Barboza (19-6 MMA) entered tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after suffering losses to the aforementioned Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kevin Lee in his most recent octagon appearances.
As for Dan Hooker, “Hangman” entered the UFC on FOX 31 co-headliner on a four-fight win streak, his latest being a first-round knockout of Gilbert Burns at July’s UFC 226 event in Las Vegas.
Round one begins and Dan Hooker lands a low kick. Edson Barboza returns fire with one of his own. Another pair of low kicks from Hooker. Edson leaps in and lands a heavy low kick. Dan goes high with a kick, but Edson blocks that and lands another hard low kick. Dan Hooker is pressing forward now. He lands a leg kick and then misses with a high kick. Hooker with a jab to the body. He follows that up with a low kick. Barboza fires right back with a low kick of his own. Hooker circles and then leaps in with a combination. Barboza misses with a high kick. Hooker moves forward but Edson catches him with a right hand. Barboza with a pair of inside low kicks now. Hooker with a nice jab. Barboza goes to the body with a punch. He lands a hard low kick. Hooker connects with a nice jab. Barboza returns fire with a left hook followed by a right hand that rocks Dan Hooker. Edson Barboza moves in and lands a low kick. Hooker appears to be ok. He steps in with a knee and then a left hook. Barboza with a nice knee and then a right hand. Hooker remains in the pocket. He throws a jab but eats two hard low kicks before the horn sounds to end round one.
Stunned him!
MASSIVE shot from @EdsonBarbozaJR! #UFCMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/v8JxUL1Ydn
— UFC (@ufc) December 16, 2018
Round two begins and Edson Barboza fires off a pair of hard low kicks, the second of which hurts Hooker. Dan remains on his feet but is in bad shape. He presses forward to try and keep Edson from firing off any more low kicks. Good shots from Hooker in the pocket. Barboza circles out and lands a knee. Barboza with an elbow from the clinch. He takes a big deep breath and Hooker shoots in and lands a takedown. This is huge for Hooker. Barboza scrambles and looks to lock up an arm. Hooker escapes the submission attempt and begins to work from half guard. Dan with some shots to the body now. He postures up but Barboza leaps to his feet. Edson with a nice shot to the body followed by a left hook. Barboza with a nice jab and then a right hand. Hooker fires back with a jab. Barboza just misses with a spinning wheel kick. He lands a follow up combination. How is Hooker standing? Barboza throws him to the ground. Hooker stands back up. Just over one minute remains. Both men connect with jabs in the pocket. Barboza with a nice uppercut. He lands a heavy kick to the body and then another. Hooker is hurt. Barboza with a right hand and then another kick to the body. Hooker remains on his feet as the horn sounds to end round two.
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Round three begins and the fighters embrace in a show of respect. We get back to fighting and Dan Hooker charges forward with a combination. He shoots in for a takedown but Edson is able to defend the shot. Hooker has the Brazilian pressed against the cage and begins working some knees to the thighs of Barboza. Edson breaks free and throws a spinning back kick that connects to the body of Hooker. Dan is hurt again. Barboza is throwing everything now. He misses with a spinning wheel kick. Another spinning back kick lands. Dan Hooker continues to remain on his feet. But is eating a ton of shots. Another spinning back kick lands. Edson Barboza with a punch to the body that floors Hooker. This one is over. Finally. What heart shown by Dan Hooker.
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Official UFC on FOX 31 Result: Edson Barboza def. Dan Hooker via TKO in Round Three