[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] achieved his first main event victory on Saturday when he defeated [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 26.
Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) defended home soil and upped his status as a lightweight contender with a split decision victory over Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the event headliner, which took place at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, and streamed on ESPN+.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Hooker’s victory over Felder at UFC on ESPN+ 26.
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We're minutes away from the #UFCAuckland main event!
Who ya got between Paul Felder and Dan Hooker? pic.twitter.com/zlkxQqPyrH
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) February 23, 2020
Dan Hooker out to "Many Men" by 50 Cent.
Paul Felder out to "Space Oddity" by David Bowie and "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen. Interesting combo. #UFCAuckland
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) February 23, 2020
#UFConESPN+ 26 Main Event Closing Betting Odds:
Paul Felder +135
Dan Hooker -155#UFCAuckland 💵 Live -> @ESPN+ @BrendanFitzTV @dc_mma @DominickCruz @ufc #OnTheLine @MMAOddsBreaker https://t.co/A5yC5LD5z2— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) February 23, 2020
NO TOUCH. pic.twitter.com/RN0qTu7Cdf
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
Paul @felderpaul look ready for whatever!! But @danthehangman IS whatever 😏🤜🏻🤛🏻 #UFCAuckland
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) February 23, 2020
Low kick from Hooker again, and another. Felder having trouble closing distance. Hooker just peppering low kicks. Felder feints a takedown to land an overhand. Body kick from Felder. #UFCAuckland
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) February 23, 2020
Hooker's disregard for Felder's left hook makes me nervous.
— esther lin 🏳️🌈 (@allelbows) February 23, 2020
That was a tight round, could go either way. Hooker's calf kick the most significant strike of the round, but Felder managed to close the distance a few times there. 10-9 Hooker
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 23, 2020
His eye, no! #UFCAuckland
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) February 23, 2020
Dang, Paul Felder's right eye nearly swollen completely shut going into the second round in Auckland.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 23, 2020
Hardy being biased with commentary
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 23, 2020
'Fuck him up' chants??? Auckland, a place after my heart. #UFCAuckland
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) February 23, 2020
One eye swollen shut and coming up just short on everything you throw. I assume what Paul Felder's experiencing right now is what fighters see in their nightmares.
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) February 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/nobz_ufc/status/1231406061384429568
Looks like Felder's eye is slightly open. So might not be an issue after all.
I think I have it 19-19 after two, but that was another very close round.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) February 23, 2020
We're trading early! 👊
📝 Scorecards after two? #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/gjZ8htKyJU
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
Oooooh this is fun!
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) February 23, 2020
Felder has found his range as the fight has progressed. This is a war. #UFCAuckland
— Rob Tatum (@RobTatum303) February 23, 2020
Dan Hardy and John Gooden making it sound like Hooker is dominating Felder while this is actually a very close and competitive fight imo. #UFCAuckland
— MaRCeL DoRFF 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) February 23, 2020
Felder’s power leg kicks aren’t being thrown as often, but they seem to be adding up too. Very fun, very technical fight here.
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) February 23, 2020
I got it 2-1 for hooker right now.
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) February 23, 2020
"I'll use my range to avoid everything except his left hand, which I'll let him land all night" is an interesting game plan
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) February 23, 2020
Hooker has ate some serious shots
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 23, 2020
Doesn’t matter who wins this Felder-Hooker fight, both these dudes are going to need some ice packs and Advil. The damage is just piling up.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) February 23, 2020
Dan Hooker's jaw may be broken and this last 8 minutes is gonna be super dangerous for him as his mouth is wide open
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) February 23, 2020
38-38 after four.
Winner takes all.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 23, 2020
THE FINAL ACT. #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/idgXag4PUP
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
Hooker and Felder beating the shit out of each other in New Zealand. Brutal.
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) February 23, 2020
Felder needs to double up that right hand.
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) February 23, 2020
I really hope Hooker doesn't get the round because of that takedown.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) February 23, 2020
What an incredible fight!! @felderpaul @danthehangman #UFCAuckland #UFCAukland
— Laura Sanko (@laura_sanko) February 23, 2020
These two guys are giving everything they have. Absolute warriors.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) February 23, 2020
What a WAR!!!! #UFCAukland
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) February 23, 2020
Amazing fight
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 23, 2020
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #UFCAuckland
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) February 23, 2020
Someone have the ambulance ready for Felder and Hooker’s ride to the hospital. Brutal five rounds for both guys. #UFCAuckland
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) February 23, 2020
Dans jaw 😱 #UFCAuckland
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) February 23, 2020
48-47 felder that takedown did nothing
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) February 23, 2020
What a fight between to absolute warriors. Not sure how you can’t be a fan of either man after that one…
Felder has a good argument for some rounds but suspect that the judges will side with Hooker via 48-47. Let’s see… #UFCAuckland
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) February 23, 2020
What a great fight @felderpaul & Dan Hooker just had. They gave everything. Props to both 💪👏
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) February 23, 2020
WOW! 👏
🇳🇿 THE HOMECOMING IS COMPLETE! #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/SUUHdM9NSo
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
"That might be it for me. I've got a four year old at home who misses me every time I go away like this." – Paul Felder in his post-fight speech.
Felder has taken off a glove and may call it a day after an incredible battle.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 23, 2020
I think Felder.
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 23, 2020
This decision is a joke 😁
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) February 23, 2020
Gaethje vs Hooker, anyone!? 🍿 #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/4IIGj6HFks
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
Dan Hooker, through a potentially broken jaw, calls out Justin Gaethje. What a madman. #UFCAuckland
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) February 23, 2020
That was a close one!#UFCAuckland
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) February 23, 2020
Hooker vs Gaethje
me vs Conor
run it— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) February 23, 2020
Head up my man @felderpaul #UFCAukland great job @danthehangman
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) February 23, 2020
Thank you @felderpaul for the amazing fights always good to Watch you
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) February 23, 2020
How the fuck did they give him the 3rd round! Get these people the fuck outta here https://t.co/rfjkD2clJq
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) February 23, 2020
Hooker vs gaethje sign me up!! That would be epic especially in Perth and set up the next Conor or title challenger! #ufc
— Ibrahim Kawa (@Abraham_kawa) February 23, 2020