UFC Auckland results: Dan Hooker earns split nod in main event, Paul Felder teases retirement
On Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, the UFC returns to action for UFC on ESPN+ 26.
The event takes place at the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand and is headlined by a great lightweight scrap between Paul Felder and — fighting in his home city — Dan Hooker.
Felder has won his last five fights at 155-pounds as he looks to take on step closer title contention in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions. After moving up a weight class on short notice and dropping a split decision to Mike Perry at UFC 226 in July 2018, “The Irish Dragon” bounced back with lightweight victories over James Vick and Edson Barboza in 2019 to set himself up for his first UFC main event.
Hooker has looked impressive in his last two fights. “The Hangman’s” lone defeat in is last seven bouts game against Barboza at UFC on FOX 31 in December 2018. Since then, the Auckland native finished Vick in the first round at UFC San Antonio, and picked up a unanimous decision win over former title challenger Al Iaquinta at UFC 243 in October.
Here is how the UFC Auckland main event went down between Paul Felder and Dan Hooker, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here.
ROUND 1
NO TOUCH. pic.twitter.com/RN0qTu7Cdf
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
I hope I don’t jinx it, but I don’t see a way this fight is not tremendous. Hooker refused to touch gloves after Felder extended his fists and we are off. Hooker lands four quick calf kicks, the fourth came while Felder was throwing a spinning back fist and knocked his foe off balance. Felder lands a nice right hand as Hooker continues to target the lead leg. Felder lands a hard right hand and a kick to the body. Hooker lands to the body of Felder and circles around the Octagon. Hard leg kick and jab from Hooker as Felder just misses on a combination. Felder checks a leg kick from Hooker and lands a left hand over the top. Kick to the body from Felder and they begin trading punches. Felder lands a clean left hook, Hooker answers with a right hand. Felder lands an inside leg kick and Hooker falls to the mat. They clinch up against the fence with Hooker getting double under hooks. Under 45 seconds to go and Felder gets separation. Hooker ducks under a Felder left hook and lands another calf kick. Right hand from Felder as we approach the final 10 seconds. Felder comes up short with a combination, Hooker comes up short on a head kick and Felder lands a right hand at the horn. Good round.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Hooker
ROUND 2
Felder is bleeding from the nose and his right eye is almost swollen shut to start the second round. That certainly won’t slow “The Irish Dragon” down. Hooker lands a left hand and another calf kick. Hooker with a hard jab after a Felder thigh kick and goes back to the calf with a kick of his own. The Auckland crowd with a “f*** him up” chant and Felder lands a hard right hand. Hooker lands a left and eats another right from Felder. Hooker ties Felder up and takes his back with one hook in. Halfway through the round as both guys are trying to find an opening to improve their respective positions. They head to the fence and Felder gets separation. Hooker with another hard calf kick and Felder returns. Felder trying to land to the body and Hooker looks extremely relaxed in his first main event. Leg kick from Felder, and another, followed by a third and fourth. Spinning kick to the body from Felder lands and a left hook. Knee to the body from Hooker and Felder answers with a right hand. Another right hand from Felder and a hard jab return from Hooker. Spinning elbow just misses as they trade punches and the horn sounds. Another fun round.
We're trading early! 👊
📝 Scorecards after two? #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/gjZ8htKyJU
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Felder
ROUND 3
They trade calf kicks to begin the third round. Felder lands a hard, clean jab as the “f*** him up” chants begin again for Hooker. Felder lands a short uppercut on the inside and a beautiful left hook. Another sneaky uppercut from Felder lands, Hooker answers with a low kick. Felder lands a hard calf kick of his own and a jab behind it. Hooker with a right hand and they begin trading combinations. Leg kick from Felder and Hooker lands a nice left hook. Both man land punches and leg kicks, Felder is really chewing up the leg of his opponent now. Felder with another left hook and Hooker answers with a jab, leg kick combination. Felder with a leg kick, Hooker answers with a counter jab moving backwards. Final minute of the round and Hooker’s right eye is starting to swell. Spinning back kick to the body from Felder lands. Hooker throws a high kick, caught by Felder and they begin battling against the fence. Final 10 seconds and both fighters trade knees to the body and some punches as the round ends.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Hooker
ROUND 4
Both guys head to the championship rounds for the first time in their careers. Felder comes out hard with leg kicks and they are hard. Calf kick from Hooker answered by a big right hand from Felder. Left hand from Felder and they circle back to the center of the cage. Left hook from Felder, and another, while Hooker lands with a jab and a pair of calf kicks. Big right hand from Felder and it caught Hooker’s attention. Hooker has some swelling in the jaw area as he clinches with Felder against the fence. Felder separates with a hard elbow. Nice jab from Hooker and he takes the back of Felder against the fence. Felder is able to get chest-to-chest and separate. Felder with a hard right hand once again and feigns a superman punch attempt. Hooker with a right hand now and Felder just misses a left hook. Left hook over the top from Felder. Right hand from Felder and Hooker shoots a single against the fence. Felder with a nice elbow on the inside as we hit the final 30 seconds. Hooker trying to get Felder to the mat but “The Irish Dragon” defends as the round ends. I have it even heading into the final five minutes.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Felder
ROUND 5
Quick jab from Hooker lands early and Felder lands an inside leg kick. Felder with another hard right hand to the jaw of Hooker, and another. Hooker ducks under a left hook and lands a right hand. Felder scores with that right hook once again. Felder lands another right hook and is looking comfortable in this fifth round. Another right hand from Felder and Hooker shoots in. Felder defends and they tie up against the cage wall. Hooker with a pair of knees to the thigh of Felder, who then separates. Hooker with a right hand and a left jab, another jab from Hooker. Felder answers with another hard left hand. Hooker eats a jab as we hit the final two minutes of this classic battle. Three hard jabs from Felder and a right hand heading into the final minute. Level change from Hooker and a big takedown from the Auckland native. Felder trying to avoid any damage as he’s trying to get back to his feet. Felder tries to get up and Hooker takes his back. Felder scrambles and gets back to his feet. Elbows from Felder as Hooker has his back as the round ends. Wow! What an amazing main event. I’m giving the final round to Felder because of the damage, although the takedown could’ve stolen it.
RESPECT EARNED. 🤝 #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/Ak7QCRMSAs
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 and the fight 48-47 for Felder
Official result: Dan Hooker def. Paul Felder via split decision (47-48, 48-47 x2)
WOW! 👏
🇳🇿 THE HOMECOMING IS COMPLETE! #UFCAuckland pic.twitter.com/SUUHdM9NSo
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2020
After the fight, Paul Felder says that may have been his last fight in an emotional post-fight interview with Dan Hardy.
