Tag: Dan Hooker

UFC on ESPN+ 26: Another chapter written in the rise of City Kickboxing

Successful nights are becoming a regular thing for City Kickboxing, and UFC Auckland was no different.

Successful nights are becoming a regular thing for City Kickboxing. UFC on ESPN+ 26 was no different.

With coach Eugene Bareman manning the helm, per usual, the Oceanic region’s powerhouse MMA gym went undefeated on Saturday. With their leaders UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski sitting cageside, City Kickboxing went 3-0 on home soil.

Starting off the night’s success was flyweight [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]. The explosive, speedy Kiwi engaged in an exciting back-and-forth bout with the always gritty Tyson Nam. After a 15-minute battle, Kara-France’s hand was raised.

[autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] was next and carried the momentum with him from the start of his walkout. As he strolled to the cage to fight Magomed Mustafaev, the Auckland faithful loudly and proudly voiced their support.

Riddell’s blood-soaked charisma, energy, and willingness to engage despite being the underdog likely helped boost his popularity throughout the MMA community. Riddell defeated Mustafaev by unanimous decision.

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City Kickboxing’s night (and the entire card) was capped off by an instant classic between [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] and Paul Felder. The two lightweights traded blows in technical destruction. Despite Felder’s toughness, Hooker persevered and had his hand raised when all was said and done.

Between Adesanya, Volkanovski, Hooker, Riddell, Kara-France, UFC featherweight Shane Young, and a plethora of regional fighters, City Kickboxing has a lot to look forward to in 2020.

The hot start to the year piggybacks off a massive 2019. Last year, the gym’s impressive resume and rising success made City Kickboxing MMA Junkie’s 2019 “Gym of the Year.”

Led by Bareman, the Auckland-based gym won 90 percent (nine of 10) of its bouts inside the octagon in 2019.

UFC on ESPN+ 26 took place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The event streamed on ESPN+.

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UFC on ESPN+ 26 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Top earners net $10,000

UFC on ESPN+ 26 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $130,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN+ 26 took place Saturday at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 26 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Karolina Kowalkiewicz[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Ben Sosoli[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Magomed Mustafaev[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Zubaira Tukhugov[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Joshua Culibao[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Emil Meek[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Song Kenan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Callan Potter[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Loma Lookboonmee[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shana Dobson[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $707,000
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $31,711,500

UFC on ESPN+ 26 matchmaker: Who’s next for Paul Felder after lost to Dan Hooker?

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Paul Felder in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Paul Felder in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

UFC on ESPN+ 26 matchmaker: Who’s next for Dan Hooker after win over Paul Felder?

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Dan Hooker in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Dan Hooker in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN+ 26 with Bruce, Iggy, Bowie … and Snap!

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 26 went with as their backing tracks in Auckland, New Zealand.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13

Dan Hooker, Paul Felder hospitalized after UFC on ESPN+ 26 ‘Fight of the Night’

They posed next to each other on stretchers, too.

Not surprisingly, [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] both were transported an area hospital following the UFC on ESPN+ 26 main event. And they did so together.

After producing a grueling five-round battle in the lightweight headliner that ended with Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) winning a split decision over Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), both men were in much need of being medically examined further. Before undergoing all their tests, though, the “Fight of the Night” winners posed for a classic hospital photo.

(Photo courtesy of Paul Felder/Instagram)

Here’s video of the two fighters leaving Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.

Via Instagram:

Via Instagram:

There was no shortage of damage distributed in the 25-minute matchup. Felder had his eye compromised and nearly shut within the first seven minutes of the fight, while Hooker seemed to be dealing with a jaw issue in the fourth and fifth rounds.

Both men pushed through the pain, though, and made it to the final bell, where one judge saw it for Felder and two scored it for Hooker.

The build to the fight was filled with much tension, but after slugging it out in a memorable bout and taking photos together, it appears there’s nothing but respect between Hooker and Felder.

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UFC on ESPN+ 26 bonuses: Dan Hooker vs. Paul Felder an obvious ‘Fight of the Night’

Dan Hooker and Paul Felder took home hard-earned $50,000 bonuses for their well-contested bout.

Ten months from now, when “Fight of the Year” lists are compiled, [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]’s five-round thriller against[autotag] Paul Felder[/autotag] is likely to merit consideration.

But while the notion of where the fight might ultimately rate is up for conjecture, there’s little doubt Hooker’s split-decision victory was the best fight on Saturday night’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 card.

The UFC agreed, too, as it awarded Hooker and Felder “Fight of the Night” for the card at Spark Arena in Auckland New Zealand, meaning both fighters will go home with an extra $50,000 for their tremendous effort.

For Felder, the award marks the fifth postfight bonus in a UFC stint which dates back to 2014. For Hooker, who has also been with the company since 2014, it was his fourth.

“Performance of the Night” went to a pair of worthy competitors as well.

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[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] got the job done in the evening’s light heavyweight co-feature fight, using a Kimura to finish Michał Oleksiejczuk in the opening round of their bout. And [autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag] made a big statement that she belongs in the UFC. Cachoeira, who lost her first three bouts in the company, opened the card by knocking out Shana Dobson in 40 seconds.

They also take home $50,000 apiece in what was the first career bonus for both.

The UFC announced a sellout crowd of 10,025 paying a gate of $1,239,625 USD, both of which are Spark Arena records.

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Hooker vs. Felder scorecard: What was difference in close UFC on ESPN+ 26 headliner?

Scores were all over the map aside from two of the five rounds in the slugfest.

If you had trouble scoring the thrilling UFC on ESPN+ 26 main event between [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag], well, you weren’t alone.

All three judges in Saturday’s lightweight bout scored the fight 48-47. Howard Hughes and David Lethaby gave the edge to Hooker, while Barry Foley had it for Felder.

From there, though, there was even more disagreement. All three judges had Round 1 for Hooker. All three had Round 4 for Felder.

But the remaining three rounds were split, including the climactic final round. Foley gave the last round to Felder, making the difference on his card. Hughes gave it to Hooker, spelling the difference on his card. Lethaby, who had each of the first three rounds for Hooker, gave the fifth to Felder.

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Check out the scorecard below:

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UFC on ESPN+ 26 results: Dan Hooker edges Paul Felder in brutal slugfest

The matchup between Dan Hooker and Paul Felder turned out to be everything we thought it could be.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] is a lanky lightweight who uses his range to maximum efficiency. [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] is a buzzsaw who likes to bite down on his mouthpiece, close the distance and throw down.

That’s what made the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 26 in Auckland, New Zealand, so intriguing on paper, and the fight delivered exactly what it promised.

For five grueling rounds, the duo put on a display that was equal parts skill and grit, as the duo pieced each other up.

In the end, Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who trains out of Auckland’s City Kickboxing, earned the hometown victory at Spark Arena via split decision. Hooker got the better end of two out of three 48-47 scorecards in a fight every bit as close as the scores indicate.

After the fight, Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) indicated retirement might be in the cards.

“I knew it was close,” he said. “I feel like I hurt him a lot in the fight, but he got the takedowns, which is smart. He busted me up pretty good. That might be it for me.”

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The opening round saw Hooker, who had a four-inch reach advantage, utilize his range. He kept Felder at bay with front kicks and kicks to the lead leg. When Felder landed, however, he did so with authority, as he rocked Hooker with a pair of left hooks during the round, portending things to come.

By Round 2, Felder’s right eye was swollen shut, but he pressed forward. Hooker continued to play matador, continued to land kicks, and left Felder flustered.

In the third round, however, Felder managed to figure out how to close the distance and engage, even with one eye closed, and the fight’s momentum changed. Hooker never did have an answer for Felder’s powerful, well-placed lefts, and the damage started to add up.

In the fourth, the Rufousport standout continued to turn up the heat, and there was a sense Felder could win the fight after all. What had been a rowdy crowd at the fight’s outset grew nervous as the two exchanged, with Felder getting the best of things.

Both competitors went for the win in the fifth. What might have been the deciding moment came late, when Hooker parried a charging Felder and turned it into a takedown. Felder did his best to break free, but Hooker’s poise in the last-minute scrambles spelled the difference.

In the overall fight stats (which can sometimes lack context, given that fights are scored round by round and not on the whole) Felder outlanded Hooker in significant strikes 133-119. Felder got the best of head strikes at 84-75, while Hooker landed 36 left strikes to Felder’s 28.

The victory was Hooker’s third in a row and seventh in eight fights since moving up from featherweight. He called for Justin Gaethje afterward. Felder, meanwhile, had a two-fight winning streak snapped. Both men were transported to a local hospital after the fight.

While there was high tension between both men in the buildup to the bout, Hooker was conciliatory after Felder hinted at retirement.

“An honor,” Hooker said of sharing the octagon with Felder. “He’s a tough son of a gun.”

Complete UFC on ESPN+ 26 results include:

  • Dan Hooker def. Paul Felder via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
  • Jimmy Crute def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via submission (Kimura) – Round 1, 3:29
  • Yan Xiaonan def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Ben Sosoli via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:28
  • Brad Riddell def. Magomed Mustafaev via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Zubaira Tukhugov def. Kevin Aguilar via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:21
  • Jalin Turner def. Josh Culibao via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 3:01
  • Jake Matthews def. Emil Meek via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Song Kenan def. Callan Potter via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:20)
  • Kai Kara-France def. Tyson Nam via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Angela Hill def. Loma Lookboonmee via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Priscila Cachoeira def. Shana Dobson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:40

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Twitter reacts to Dan Hooker’s narrow win over Paul Felder at UFC on ESPN+ 26

See the top Twitter reactions to Dan Hooker’s win over Paul Felder in the UFC on ESPN+ 26 main event.

[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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https://twitter.com/nobz_ufc/status/1231406061384429568