Dan Hooker earned a convincing decision victory over Al Iaquinta tonight at UFC 243.
Round One:
Leg kick for Hooker. Overhand from Iaquinta misses. Low leg kick for Hooker puts Iaquinta a little off-balance.
Iaquinta fakes a takedown and then tries for punches. Hooker back to the leg kick. Body kick for Iaquinta. The leg kick connects for Hooker nicely.
Punch lands for Hooker and Iaquinta’s legs seemed to dip momentarily there. Nice punch for Iaquinta now though.
Body punch and another strike behind it from Hooker. Iaquinta catches a kick and works Hooker over to the fence looking for a takedown.
However, Hooker stuffs it and starts blasting him with elbows and that’s a tough spot for Iaquinta. Now Hooker manages to get on top with plenty of time to work.
Iaquinta looking to escape, but Hooker ends up taking his back and is now trying to set up a rear-naked choke attempt. Iaquinta fighting the hands though and eventually manages to pop back up to his feet.
Punch upstairs and then a leg kick from Hooker. Another leg kick for Hooker knocks Iaquinta off his feet.
Iaquinta reaching for his punches a little against the lankier fighter. Hooker with a body kick and then trying upstairs as the round ends.
Round Two:
Jab working for Hooker and the ntrying for the leg kick. Iaquinta thinks about a takedown but doesn’t commit.
Iaquinta lands a punch. Leg kick for Hooker. Iaquinta with a leg kick now.
Jab for Iaquinta. Back to the leg kick for Hooker. Missed kick upstairs from Iaquinta. Inside leg kick for Hooker.
Back to the low leg kick from Hooker and that knocks Iaquinta off-balance to the mat as he was trying for a takedown. He gets up putting his leg down a little gingerly now.
Iaquinta wading forward with punches and an overhand clubs Hooker. Right hand for Iaquinta. Body kick for Hooker.
Solid left hand for Iaquinta. Low leg kick for Hooker and iaquinta seems troubled by it again.
Again the leg kick and this time Iaquinta immediately goes for a takedown, but then Hooker manages to not only stuff it but get on top himself.
Iaquinta almost able to reverse, but Hooker is still on him as he stands up against the cage.
Back to striking range they go and Hooker lands a bit right hand that drops Iaquinta. Half a minute remaining as Hooker lands a few ground and pound strikes from half guard. Now Iaquinta is working on an ankle lock to end the round.
Round Three:
Hooker working to the head and body with punches to start the third. Now a leg kick. Head kick attempt from Hooker is blocked.
Leg kick from Iaquinta and then a reaching punch taht doesn’t quite connect. Right hand for Iaquinta. Nice elbow strike from Hooker bothers Iaquinta.
Iaquinta with a good body kick and then Hooker with a punch. Right hand for Hooker. Now a jab. Iaquinta tries for a single leg but doesn’t pay off. Iaquinta bleeding from the nose.
Right hand lands for Iaquinta. Leg kicks for him. Now a body punch. jab for Hooker. Inside leg kick for Hooker.
Right hand to the body for Hooker. Iaquinta swinging, but still struggling with the range. Jab for Hooker.
Iaquinta with an inside leg kick. Low leg kick for Hooker again knocks Iaquinta off his feet for a moment. Iaquinta back upright and trying to press forward looking for one last big punch that doesn’t find the mark.
Decision:
Good performance by Hooker here then and his leg kicks in particular paid off as he controlled the action from range and emerges with a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x2, 30-26).
