Porrier defeated Hooker in a potential Fight of the Year

Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Porrier successfully defended third place in the division’s ranking, preventing Dan Hooker from taking the lead in the challenger race.

Starting from the second round of the match, which became the main event of the UFC on ESPN 12 tournament in Las Vegas, the fighters arranged an uncompromising cutting in the oncoming courses, alternately seizing the initiative in the fight.

After a no less vivid third round, spent mostly in the stance, in the fourth five-minute the fighters demonstrated skills in the stalls – Hooker successfully transferred the opponent, and Porrier dangerously responded with attempts to hold the elbow lever and the guillotine.

In the fifth round, Porrier left more strength, who not only successfully resisted attempts to transfer from Hooker, but also continued to throw heavy blows at the opponent in the stance.

After completing the fight in a dominant position, the American took away the victory in the duel, having won against the New Zealander by unanimous refereeing decision 48-46 and 48-47 twice.

In the co-management of the event, the popular welterweight Mike Perry, after three rounds with a score of 29-28, won three times by unanimous decision against Mickey Gall.

In the third most important event of the tournament, former light heavyweight Gian Villante made his unsuccessful debut in the UFC heavyweight category, less than a minute and a half before the end of the match, losing to Maurice Green by strangulation with a hand triangle. At the same time, Villante confidently led the matter to victory, and fell for strangulation, finishing off an opponent in the stalls after a hard hit.

Among the other results of the event, we note the early victories of Takashi Sato, Julian Erosa, Ham Worthy, Tanner Bosera and Kay Hansen.

All UFC on ESPN 12 tournament results.