Hooker stars with KO win

Dan Hooker sent a clear message to the UFC matchmakers after continuing his spectacular rise up the lightweight division with a first-round knockout over Gilbert Burns yesterday.

The 28-year-old Kiwi is set to move into the top 15 of the stacked division – and will be banging on the door of the top 10 – after registering his fourthstraight stoppage win at UFC 226 in Las Vegas.

Appearing on the biggest card of the year, Hooker once again proved he belonged at the elite level as he finished Burns with a brutal left hook just 2:28 into the fight.

Many felt ‘The Hangman’ (18-7) was deserving of a ranked opponent following his first round KO of veteran Jim Miller in April.

Hooker bit his tongue when the UFC matched him with Burns (13-3) but he made his feelings known after making yet another statement in the octagon.

‘‘Give me someone in the top 10,’’ Hooker said.

‘‘Put some respect on my name.

That’s four in a row, you’re getting these boys hurt, you need to give me someone on my my level.’’

Burns had won his last two bouts by KO but after an aggressive start, he was soon out of his depth.

The Brazilian landed an early right hand but that simply sparked Hooker into action.

Hooker dropped the Brazilian with a straight right and briefly had Burns, a four-time jiu-jitsu world champion, in a choke hold just as if to let him know that he too is pretty handy on the ground.

But the plan was always to keep this fight standing.

With Burns near the cage, Hooker unleashed a left hook to the body before going straight back upstairs that sent his rival crashing to the canvas.

Hooker followed up with a hammer fist but Burns was already done and the referee swiftly stepped in.

‘‘I knew that this guy wasn’t on my level,’’ Hooker said.

‘‘I saw everything he was throwing, timed him out and finished him.

‘‘To me, my division is filled with guys who don’t want to fight.

‘‘It’s time to get these guys who don’t fight out of here. I’ll fight anyone, anytime.’’

Hooker joined City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya in the winner’s circle this weekend after ‘The Last Stylebender’ dominated eighthranked middleweight Brad Tavares in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter finale a day earlier.

It continues an impressive run of results from the Auckland gym with Shane Young picking up his maiden UFC victory two weeks ago.

‘‘I train with the best team in the world,’’ Hooker said.

‘‘You saw Israel Adesanya last night and then me tonight. You’re just getting a taste of what we do. We train for this every day.’’

‘‘To me, my division is filled with guys who don’t want to fight. ‘‘

Dan Hooker