Photo Courtesy of MMA Fighting
Although the Middle Weight championship fight between Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya has all the makings of a classic, the Co-Main event for UFC 243 has sparked a significant amount of interest of it’s own. “Raging” Al Iaquinta will take on New Zealander Dan “The Hangman” Hooker in front of 60,000 fans at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne Australia. The fight will be LIVE on PPV and ESPN+ this Saturday October 5th at 10PM EST.
Dan Hooker enters the fight with his stock potentially at it’s highest. Although he suffered a TKO loss to Edson Barboza he responded strongly with a knock out win of his own against James Vick. Hooker has shown knock out power but brings a strong submission game to the table as well. His game continues to improve every time he steps in the octagon. Like his opponent Iaquinta both competitors love to fight and always deliver strong performances on fight night.
The fight is arguably the biggest of Hooker’s career thus far. The New Zealander gets an opportunity to fight close to home against a higher ranked opponent in Raging Al who has fought for a title and competed against some of the toughest fighters the division has to offer. “On paper its a good matchup” Hooker told MMA Junkie. “A dynamic and fast pace fight. The fans are in for a treat.” With that being said Hooker understands the dangers of fighting an opponent with similar fighting tendencies. He’ll have to be mindful of the knock out power of Iaquinta. “The Hangman” went on “I can’t promise a victory, win or lose I can promise a damn exciting fight.”
Iaquinta spoke on the potential outcome of the fight with a bit more certainty. “I think he’s a very tough opponent, every fight he’s gotten better. He’s the kind of guy that you got to put out. He doesn’t go out easily. The goal is to finish the fight quick and easy” Iaquinta told MMA Fighting. He went on “Get in and get out easy, make it look good. I know I’m more than capable to do it.”
The fight is an important one for the Serra Longo lightweight as well. After an impressive five round win over Kevin Lee, Iaquinta suffered a gritty loss to Cowboy Cerrone. Although the fight once again showcased the toughness of Iaquinta, he’s out to show the world there’s much more to his game. “People think were both (Iaquinta and Hooker) tough and that’s true, but I think you’ll see my skills are beyond his” Iaquinta told MMA Fighting. “I’m a way better fighter in all aspects and thats why I win this fight.”
Iaquinta has established a reputation of being a “gamer”. A competitor who always comes to fight, putting everything on the line. A mixed martial artist who says his opponents would have to kill him in that cage and means it. Yet there’s much more to Iaquinta’s game than being durable and gritty. The New Yorker told MMA Junkie “My toughness is always going to be there but I think a few fights that I had to use the toughness, the toughness really came out, but I think that in this one, the way that the style matchup is going to work out, it’s not going to be that case. You’re really going to see how good I am.”
The two lightweights will square off in less than two days for what will be an exciting fast paced three round fight. Both fighters with something to prove, both looking to make a big statement. After his last win Hooker called out Iaquinta months back. This weekend he gets his wish as Iaquinta will look to show him to be very careful what you wish for.
-Matt Pellicane
Iaquinta Nation 