Dan Hooker defeats Jalin Turner in epic battle at UFC 290
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, July 8, 2023, for International Fight Week, where UFC 290 goes down live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Headlining the event is a featherweight title unification bout between undisputed champion Alexander Volkanovski (25-2) and interim champion Yair Rodriguez (15-3).
Co-headlining the event was also a title bout, this one a trilogy coming at 125 lbs between UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (21-6-2) and no. 2 ranked former RFA flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (25-5).
Our second main card attraction came in the lightweight division between Jalin Turner (13-7) and Dan Hooker (23-12).
Hooker was coming into the bout off a TKO victory over the surging Claudio Puelles last November, while Turner most recently lost a highly contested split decision to no. 7 ranked former KSW champ-champ Mateusz Gamrot following a five-fight finish streak of his own.
Continue reading to see how this lightweight encounter went down:
Official Result: Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Each man does a good job utilizing their front kicks and leg kicks throughout the opening round, and both caught the other with combinations as the round went on. Turner does appear to be the sharper of the two, but it’s close through the first five minutes.
Turner lands a nasty head kick midway through round two, before landing a series of combinations immediately following in attempt to stop the fight. Though hurt, Hooker survives and ends up rocking Turner himself later in the round. Hooker ends round two on Turner’s back with a rear naked choke sunk in.
Hooker picks up in the third and final round where he left off in the second, absolutely piecing Turner up, who’s beginning to fatigue badly. Turner does secure a takedown, but is unable to remain on top and ends up getting dropped two or so minutes into the third.
Hooker remains on top for the majority of the rest of the fight, Turner only getting back to his feet in the final minute.
Dan Hooker just picked up his first win streak since 2020 with this victory tonight at UFC 290.
Jalin Turner on the other hand just suffered his second-straight split decision defeat.
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