It’s co-main event time for UFC on FOX 31, and we’ve got veteran Muay Thai ace Edson Barboza taking on New Zealand-based striking specialist Dan Hooker.
Since he’s been fighting in the UFC since the 1920s, we know all there is to know about Barboza: killer standup. And Hooker’s been fighting in the UFC for a while, too, although he was working the Australian circuit before his winning ways gained him entrance into the UFC’s mainstream North America talent pool. So, Hooker. Four-fight win streak, with knockouts over Jim Miller, Ross Pearson and Gilbert Burns.
From the outset these guys are clearly going to be throwing kicks and punches until the cows come home, and at first, his aggression and slight height advantage make Hooker the lead in this dance.But it doesn’t take long for Barboza to start stinging Hooker with crippling leg-kicks…
These leg kicks #UFCMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/p0ukZBOVgA
— UFC (@ufc) December 16, 2018
…And nailing Hooker with well-timed counters…
Stunned him!
MASSIVE shot from @EdsonBarbozaJR! #UFCMilwaukee pic.twitter.com/v8JxUL1Ydn
— UFC (@ufc) December 16, 2018
…But Hooker keeps coming no matter what. He’s eating kick and punch and elbow and knees galore, and though he’s throwing some heat back, it’s suddenly an episode of “How Much Punishment Can A Human Being Take?” For Hooker, that amount is an godly one, but Barboza keeps nailing his body until a spin-kick and then a punch to the gut finally makes the Kiwi collapse.
Barboza vs Hooker was an ALL OUT WAR. Nothing but respect for both guys pic.twitter.com/P8SKGdtSQD
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 16, 2018
This was a pretty fun scrap, albeit one-sided.