Defeat could mean the end for Hooker
Dan Hooker’s UFC career could be finished after his shock loss via TKO to newcomer Michael Chandler at UFC 257 on Sunday.
The Kiwi lightweight lost in the first round for the first time in his career and left his gloves in the cage after taking them off following his defeat to the American, a sign the 30-year-old from Auckland is considering retirement.
Hooker has been a mainstay of the promotion since his UFC debut in 2014, with an MMA record of 20 wins and 10 losses, but he was no match for Chandler at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
Their bout was the co-main event at
UFC 257, with Dustin
Poirier’s stoppage of
Irish superstar
Conor McGregor in the second round also being a shock in the night’s last fight.
Chandler’s longanticipated UFC arrival was worth the wait for his 27th professional fight in a career that began in 2009.
After a deliberate start, Chandler (22-5) jabbed to the body as he lunged forward and caught Hooker with a left hand to the face that crumpled his opponent. Chandler finished a dazed Hooker with punches on the ground before climbing atop the cage and doing a full standing backflip into the octagon from atop the fence. And Chandler was still fired up in his post-fight interview, calling the bout ‘‘the greatest moment of my professional life’’.
‘‘Conor McGregor! Surprise, surprise, there’s a new king in the lightweight division,’’ Chandler added.
‘‘Dustin Poirier, your time is coming. And Khabib, if you ever do see fit to grace us with your presence back here in the UFC octagon in your quest for 30 [victories], you know you’ve got to beat somebody, so beat me – if you can!’’
Poirier (26-7) stopped McGregor with a flurry of punches midway through the second round, avenging his loss to the Irishman with a knockout victory.
‘‘I think this is a title fight,’’ Poirier said of their lightweight bout. ‘‘I’m the champion.’’