A key lightweight bout featuring former title challenger Al Iaquinta taking on Dan Hooker co-headlines tonight’s UFC 243 event in Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n
Al Iaquinta (14-5-1 MMA) was last seen in action at May’s UFC event in Ottawa, where he suffered a unanimous decision setback to Donald Cerrone. Prior to his loss to ‘Cowboy’, ‘Raging Al’<\/a> was coming off a decision victory over perennial division contender Kevin Lee.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Dan Hooker (18-8 MMA) was most recently seen in action at July’s UFC event in San Antonio where he scored a sensational knockout victory<\/a> over James Vick. ‘The Hangman’ has won 5 of his past 6 fights overall entering UFC 243, with his lone loss in that stretch coming to Edson Barboza.<\/p>\n Round one begins and Dan Hooker comes forward early. He lands a chopping low kick. Al Iaquinta circles along the outside. He comes in with a straight right that misses. Hooker is looking to set up a right hand. Iaquinta catches him with a nice body kick. Iaquinta responds with a right over the top. Both men are firing in the pocket. Hooker with another solid low kick. Iaquinta catches a kick and attempts to take the fight to the ground. He does but he is in a bad position. Hooker is unloading punches and elbows. He switches to a choke and takes Al’s back. He locks in a body triangle and begins working for a rear-naked choke. Iaquinta is doing a good job of defending. He eventually breaks free and gets up to his feet. Dan Hooker immediately drops him with another low kick. Al is back up but eats a jab for his efforts. Hooker looks for a high kick but just misses. The horn sounds to end round one.<\/p>\n Hooker is all over Iaquinta early in round 1! #UFC243<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/k4pSMaekcO<\/a><\/p>\n — UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n