Elite lightweight fighter Dustin Poirier (25-6, 12 KOs, 7 SUBs) will meet a surging Dan “The Hangman” Hooker (20-8, 10 KOs, 7 SUBs) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card airs live at 6pm ET on ESPN, with a welterweight scrap between knockout artist Mike Perry and submission specialist Mickey Gall serving as the co-main event. The main card features four fights, with the prelims serving up six contests. Let’s take a closer look at the main event, which has legit Fight of the Year potential.
UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Hooker
Dustin Poirier (25-6, 12 KOs, 7 SUBs)
Poirier is a certified gangster and a former interim champion in the most loaded division in the UFC. There’s no question that the 31-year old is championship caliber, but he just has the misfortune of fighting during the Khabib era. You can’t really blame the guy for losing to an all-time great, but the Russian proved to have Dustin’s number. It’s unlikely The Diamond gets another title shot while Nurmagomedov holds the strap, but being a top 3 lightweight is serious clout - this is a guy that beat a murderer’s row in Gaethje, Alvarez and Holloway to earn the title bid.
Since making his UFC debut at 21, Dustin has grown into one of the most experienced, well-rounded fighters on the roster. This guy can take the fight anywhere, whether it’s extended grappling sessions or an all-out firefight. Where he does his best work is on the feet, as he routinely beats opponents to the punch, lighting them up with explosive boxing combinations. Although he lets his defense slide at times, Poirier can stand and trade with anybody in the world.
Dan “The Hangman” Hooker (20-8, 10 KOs, 7 SUBs)
The Hangman is finally getting his shot to prove that he’s a genuine title contender. It only took an 8-1 winning streak that included victories over Gilbert Burns, James Vick, Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder. While the Kiwi doesn’t have that signature win just yet, he’s clearly earned the chance to get it here. Anyone who beats Poirier can demand a championship bout and it wouldn’t be out of the question.
While his last outing over Felder resulted in a questionable split decision win, Hooker’s body of work before that can’t be denied. Take out a brutal loss to Barboza (chalk that up to a horrible style matchup), and the 30-year-old has been one of the most violent dudes in the shark-infested division. Since moving to 155 - a move that saved his career - Hooker has evolved into marchdown dude that beats opponents into submission. Scary stuff.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Poirier 5.51 / Hooker 4.76
Striking accuracy: Poirier 49% / Hooker 45%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Poirier 3.97 / Hooker 4.67
Defense: Poirier 56% / Hooker 55%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Poirier 1.55 / Hooker 0.43
Takedown accuracy: Poirier 37% / Hooker 28%
Takedowns defended: Poirier 61% / Hooker 78%
Submission average: Poirier 1.2 / Hooker 0.3
UFC Picks
The UFC odds at BookMaker.eu show Poirier as a big -217 favorite, with Hooker at +170 on the comeback. It’s a line we agree with, as this is a favorable matchup for the former interim champ. Hooker fights a lot like Max Holloway, thriving off pressure and volume punching. Poirier’s power, quickness and movement was key to thumping the Hawaiian, and it’ll be the same story here. While it’s not a cheap line, it’s definitely playable - you should feel confident laying down a moderately sized bet in this matchup.
Lightweight - Dan Hooker+170 vs. Dustin Poirier -217
Heavyweight - Gian Villante +179 vs. Maurice Greene -229
Heavyweight - Tanner Boser-110 vs Philipe Lins -120
Welterweight - Mickey Gall+238 vs. Mike Perry -313
Lightweight - Khama Worthy+214 vs. Luis Peña -279
Middleweight - Kyle Daukaus +221 vs. Brendan Allen -290
Catchweight - Kyle Nelson +182 vs. Sean Woodson -234
Women's Flyweight - Mara Romero Borella +233 vs. Miranda Maverick -307
Welterweight - Ramiz Brahimaj +105 vs. Takashi Sato -135
Featherweight - Youssef Zalal -122 vs. Jordan Griffin -108
Women's Strawweight - Jinh Yu Frey +140 vs. Kay Hansen-176
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