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With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from July 2023.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from July 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for July.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.
Dan Hooker emerged victorious at UFC 290 and would like to be rewarded accordingly with a huge fight on home soil.
[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] is ready to start taking on big names again.
Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) picked up his second consecutive win this past Saturday at UFC 290 when he rallied to defeat Jalin Turner in a Fight of the Night effort.
The grueling battle with Turner left Hooker with a broken arm and a facial fracture to his right cheek area. “The Hangman,” who has competed against the likes of current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier, hopes to draw a compelling name for his next outing – and would love for it to be at home.
“I heard 2024 they’re coming back to New Zealand, back to Auckland,” Hooker told Submission Radio. “So, if I could drag that back to New Zealand, back to Auckland and get like a big-name fight, that would be cool. That would be cool next. Yeah, like something big, something big. But I think I’ve only got … that next one, that’s the last fight of my contract. So yeah, it’s time to sit down with the boys at the UFC and get something big next and get another contract underway.”
Hooker has fought in New Zealand three times, scoring a first-round TKO of Ian Entwistle in his UFC debut, knocking out Ross Pearson in 2017, then outlasting Paul Felder in a main event in 2020.
If the UFC returns to New Zealand next year, Hooker wants a fight that would excite the fans.
“Yeah, it would need to be a big fight, because the stress of that is incredible,” Hooker said. “Especially coming off the performances like that. That’s three fights in Auckland. Fought on every single card, and they were all big wins. You know, first-round TKO, then the Pearson knockout, and then the absolute war with Paul Felder. So that’s three incredible performances. I feel like the expectations for coming back to Auckland are enormous. So, it’s like, you need a dance partner that warranted that excitement.
“I feel like you’d need a dance partner where it’s either one of those guys that’s like super exciting that the fans are just like, man, this is going to deliver 100 percent. Or you need an opponent that’s going to tickle the fans’ balls. You know what I mean? Be like, ‘Ooh, I don’t know if he could beat that guy.’ You know what I mean? Like, it needs to be a big, exciting fight. If we’re going to pack out … oh, I think we easily pack out the arena in New Zealand. I think that’s a sellout. That’s hands down a sellout.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
Dan Hooker left UFC 290 with a split decision win, but it cost him a pair of split bones.
[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] was victorious at UFC 290, but it definitely took a toll on his body.
After a wild 15 minutes of intense action on the main card of the pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena this past Saturday, two of the official judges saw Hooker (23-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) as the winner over Jalin Turner (13-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC). It was a brutal fight that saw both fighters repeatedly land powerful, damaging strikes throughout.
While Hooker was declared the winner by split decision, he also left the cage with a pair of split bones.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan asked Hooker during his in-cage post-fight interview if he broke his arm during the fight, to which “Hangman” responded, “Just a scratch.” Soon after the fight, Hooker shared an X-ray that confirmed his arm was indeed broken, but the injuries didn’t stop there.
Hooker revealed another X-ray on Instagram Monday that shows a facial fracture to his right cheek area, which he dubbed “anudda scratch.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuiTC3Uye7v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
It’s unclear how long Hooker will be sidelined to recover from his injuries, but when he does return to action, he’ll look to extend his winning streak to three.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
The best facts from UFC 290, which featured a record amount of sub-minute finishes and saw Alexandre Pantoja win gold in rare fashion.
The UFC’s 11th annual International Fight Week closed on a memorable high Saturday with UFC 290, which took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
After a explosive and entertaining lead up to the night’s title fights, one belt stayed put while another changed hands.
In the main event, [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) dismantled [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) en route to a third-round TKO for his fifth featherweight title defense. The co-headliner saw [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) capture the flyweight strap with a split decision win over [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in a Fight of the Year contender.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 290.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 290 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $319,500, the highest number of 2023.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 290 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $319,500.
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 290 took place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.
The full UFC 290 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
* * * *
[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Val Woodburn[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $16,000
[autotag]Tatsuro Taira[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Denise Gomes[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Vitor Petrino[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Marcin Prachnio[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Terrence Mitchell[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Jesus Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Shannon Ross[/autotag]: $4,000
[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/autotag]: $4,000
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’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 $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.
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 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Year-to-date total: $4,428,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $19,017,500
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
It appears Dan Hooker suffered more than “just a scratch” at UFC 290.
It appears [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] suffered more than a scratch at UFC 290.
Though Hooker (23-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) defeated [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC) by unanimous decision on the pay-per-view main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he did not walk away unscathed.
When asked by commentator Joe Rogan if he suffered a broken right arm during his in-cage interview, a blood-soaked Hooker responded with a smile, “Just a scratch.”
As it turns out, it was much more than just that. Hooker posted an X-ray of a clearly broken bone. Hooker didn’t say anything beyond a “shrug” emoji.
🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/RRhfa6CVbt
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) July 9, 2023
Hooker, 33, was not available to reporters after the event as he was transported to a local hospital instead. With Saturday’s victory, Hooker has won two consecutive fights, a stretch that also includes a November win over Claudio Puelles by TKO.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
Check out the best photos from Dan Hooker’s split decision win over Jalin Turner at UFC 290 in Las Vegas.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]’s split decision win over [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] at UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photos by Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 290 odds and lines between Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker with MMA picks, tips and predictions.
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In a lightweight bout on the main card, Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker meet Saturday at UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC 290: Turner vs. Hooker odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The early prelims are on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET with the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET and the main card on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET.
Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.
Records: Turner (13-6-0) | Hooker (22-12-0)
Turner looks to bounce back after suffering a split-decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 285 in early March. That setback stopped a 5-bout win streak for “The Tarantula” that dated back to February 2020. He also saw his streak of 5 straight stoppages come to an end, as he left the decision in the hands of the judges for the first time since a loss at UFC 236 in April 2019.
Hooked halted a 2-bout losing skid with a 2nd-round KO/TKO over Claudio Puelles at UFC 281 in November. He is still just 2-4 across his previous 6 fights. Like Turner, he hasn’t needed to involve the judges much, suffering 3 of those losses in the 1st round and earning the win in the 2nd round last time out.
The southpaw Turner is not only 5 years younger than the Kiwi veteran, but he has a 2-inch reach advantage, too. In addition, Turner holds a 5.63-to-4.83 significant strikes landed per minute, although Hooker is slightly more accurate at 54.57% to 51.16% for the favorite.
Both fighters have very similar takedown average numbers, although Turner is much more accurate with a 66.67% takedown average compared to just 36.67% for Hooker. Turner also sports a solid 1.55 submission average to just 0.31 for Hooker.
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Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Turner (-275) has been far more consistent lately than Hooker. The southpaw from Team Carlson Gracie Riverside did suffer the loss against Gamrot last time out, but he was on a 5-bout win streak prior to that setback. However, you cannot risk nearly 3 times your potential return on Turner.
Hooker (+225) has picked up just 2 victories in the past 6 fights. While the losses came against the who’s who of the weight class, including setbacks to Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier, a loss is still a loss. Turner is fighting with a lot of confidence and Hooker just can’t be trusted right now.
PASS.
Instead of playing the 2-way line, let’s get a little more specific. I like Turner’s work on the mat, and he has a 1.55 submission average. Hooker tapped out against Islam Makhachev at UFC 267, and that makes TURNER BY SUBMISSION (+225) a solid value.
If you don’t want to declare a winner, the FIGHT FINISH BY SUBMISSION (+200) can help you double up regardless of who wins.
As far as the Over/Under on rounds, Hooker hasn’t been out of the first round, win or lose, in 3 of his last 5 fights. Turner has seen 3 of his past 4 bouts end prior to the midway point of Round 2. As a result, UNDER 1.5 ROUNDS (+100) at even money is a strong play.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.
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Check out the full UFC 290 pre-fight press conference faceoffs from Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – Stars of UFC 290 came face-to-face for the first time on fight week Thursday following the pre-fight press conference.
With the 11th annual International Fight Week festivities ramping into high gear, fighters took the stage to answer questions from the media and then faced off for the first time ahead of the event which takes place at T-Mobile Arena and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.
Featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], interim featherweight champion [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag], flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag], [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag], [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag], [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag], [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag], [autotag]Val Woodburn[/autotag], [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] and [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag] participated in the press conference, and then faced off with their opponent.
Watch the video above to see the full faceoffs ahead of UFC 290.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
Make no mistake: Dan Hooker still wants to be UFC champion. “That’s the only reason I’m here,” he said.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] showed up to UFC 290 media day on Wednesday morning admittedly still needing his coffee to kick in. If it didn’t, he’s sure to receive a jolt in the form of his fight with Jalin Turner.
This, the New Zealander knows.
Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC), No. 12 in the latest UFC lightweight rankings, takes on No. 11 Turner (13-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in a key matchup for both men at 155 pounds on the pay-per-view main card at T-Mobile Arena.
“It’s definitely gonna be an entertaining fight,” Hooker said. “I think that’s a fact.”
Hooker certainly carries a reputation as an action fighter, but he doesn’t want that to necessarily overshadow his aspirations of becoming UFC champion. That’s why this fight is so important to him.
Hooker, 33, hasn’t strung together consecutive victories since a three-fight winning streak from 2019 to early 2020, but he has the opportunity Saturday as he’s coming off a second-round TKO of Claudio Puelles last November at UFC 281. Hooker is 2-4 in his past six fights, with losses to only the cream of the crop in lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, current lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, as well as contender Arnold Allen in a failed attempt to get something going at featherweight.
The way Hooker sees it, Turner presents “an opportunity to put (himself) back in the mix.”
“That’s why I’m fighting Jalin Turner,” Hooker said. “That’s why I’m fighting a guy that’s gonna get me back in the top 10. I’m not fighting him for fun or for money. There are plenty other guys on the roster I could be doing that for. I’m fighting Jalin Turner, a very talented kid, to get myself back in that conversation. A win over Jalin, especially an impressive performance, I think it does that.”
If victorious, Hooker likely would move into the top 10 of the UFC lightweight rankings and from there, who knows? That could be the jumpstart Hooker needs to reach the top – a path he seemed to be on once before in his career.
“Man, I want to be the champ,” Hooker said. “That’s the only reason I’m here.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
