Dan Hooker just edged out Paul Felder by split decision in a hard-hitting five round battle at UFC FIght Night 168 in New Zealand tonight.
Round One:
The main event is underway in Auckland.
Missed leg kick from Hooker. Hooker with feints and then a leg kick. he lands another. And again.
Punch from Felder and then a spinning backfist attempt, but he loses his balance in the process. Right hand lands for Hooker.
Hooker with a leg kick as Felder attempted a spinning kick. Another low leg kick for Hooker. Felder just coming up short with punches.
Hooker with a push kick. Leg kick and then a nice jab from Hooker. leg kick from Felder. Hooker returns fire. Again he lands it.
Hooker misses with a high knee. Body kick from Felder and gets caught with a counter punch. Nice left hand counter from Felder now.
Spinning kick to the body from Felder only just lands. Low kick for Felder and Hooker stumbles to the mat.
Hooker stands up and works into the clinch against the cage. Now back to striking range.
Hooker lands a punch. Now a low leg kick. Felder lands a kick and Hooker counters with a punch. Head kick from Hooker just whistles over Felder’s head.
Round Two:
Felder’s right eye starting to close up from damage he sustained in the first round.
leg kick for Felder. Body kick from Hooker but it’s blocked by Felder. Felder just misses on a loaded up elbow.
Inside leg kick from Felder. Both men trading leg kicks. Body kick for Felder. Low leg kick for Hooker.
Right hand lands for Hooker during a flurry from both men and then Felder lands a counter of his own.
Right hand from Felder, but then overcommitted and Hooker swings around to his back and gets a hook in. center of the Octagon here as Hooker stays latched on. They work over to the cage and then seperate.
Low leg kick for Hooker. Now Felder lands one of his own. Right hand for Felder. Felder swinging hard but coming up a little short.
Low kick for Felder. Hooker with a high kick that’s blocked and Felder throws the low kick again. Now a spinning kick to the body from Felder.
Left hand for Felder. Hooker threatening with a high knee. Spinning backfist attempt from Felder. Knee upstairs glances FElder’s chin.
Solid punch lands for Felder and Hooker returns fire as things start to heat up. Both men trade a punch each as the round comes to a close.
Round Three:
Leg kick from Hooker. They trade leg kicks now. Jab from Felder. Again leg kicks traded. Nice little uppercut from Felder inside.
Now a counter left from Felder. Jab for Hooker. Hard one-two for Felder. He lands a jab. Leg kick for Hooker. Leg kick from Felder.
Felder comes up short with a one-two and Hooker lands a punch in return. Jab for Felder. Inside leg kick for Hooker and one from Felder.
Leg kick again for Felder, but eats punches in return. Straight right for Hooker. Right hand for Felder and then a punch to the body, but gets countered by a punch to the head.
Nice snapping jab from Hooker. Good leg kick for Felder, punch comes back from Hooker. Solid spinning kick to the body for Felder.
Body kick from Hooker. He tries for a head kick that’s caught. Felder into the clinch thinking about a takedown, but Hooker instantly reverses him into the cage in the final 20 seconds of the round. Felder trying to work knees as the round ends.
Round Four:
Leg kick for Felder. Another one lands strongly and now a third. Elbow for Felder and punches behind it. he overextends on a couple of punches but then another straight connects.
Nice right hand from Felder and pitter-patter strikes in return from Hooker. Solid right hand for Felder. Hooker with a left hand and leg kick.
Right hand lands cleanly from Felder and that was a hard blow. Hooker now going in for a takedown attempt. He doesn’t get it, but clinches up with him against the cage.
As they separate Felder lands a big elbow. Now a right hook. Hooker spins around to Felder’s back against the cage and is trying to work for a takedown.
Felder turns around and then gets back to striking range. Strong straight right for Felder. left and then a hard right for Felder.
Left hook for Felder. The right hand lands again. Hooker struggling more now to get his own offense off despite having the reach advantage.
Hooker works into the clinch against the cage. Felder with an elbow in close. Hooker working to the back as the round comes to a close.
Round Five
Jab for Hooker. Leg kick from Felder. Inside leg kick from him. Hooker lands one to the outside. Right hand from Felder.
Hooker lands but then Felder throws harder in return. Low leg kick from Hooker and a punch. Felder with that right hand again.
Jab from Hooker. Hooker circling on the outside. Leg kick for him and right hand for Felder. Hooker darts into a takedown and almost gets him down, but then has to settle for the clinch.
Both men land punches at close range. Felder’s right hand still landing. Right hand over the top for Felder now.
Jab from Hooker and then one for Felder. Again they trade a jab apiece. Crisp jab from Felder. Final minute of the round and Felder lands a good punch, only for Hooker to then land a big takedown.
Hooker in Felder’s guard here and going for control. Felder getting his back to the cage and looks to stand, but Hooker is trying to take him back down . Felder almost gets on top but Hooker maintains top position. Back up in the final seconds of the round and we’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
A great tooth-and-nail battle between these two then and it’s razor-thin on the scorecards, with Hooker earning the split decision victory (29-28 x2, 28-29).