“Return of the HANGMAN” – A Lightweight clash between Dan Hooker and Claudio Puelles added to the UFC 281 lineup
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Dan Hooker will return to Lightweight after a failed attemopt at 145lbs
The UFC has confirmed the return of the Hangman, Dan Hooker in the Lightweight division. The Hangman will take on rising Lightweight prospect Claudio Puelles. This will be the return of the Kiwi as his last fight was at Featherweight against Arnold Allen.
The bout will take place on the UFC 281 Adesanya vs Pereira card at Madison Square Garden, New York. Hooker is on a 2 fight-losing skid and will look to get back to the win column. After a failed attempt at Featherweight against rising prospect Arnold Allen, this was the Kiwi’s return to the division after six years.
The Hangman is 1-4 in his last 5 fights, losing via TKO in his last fight at 145lbs. He will look to get back on track against a rising UFC prospect. After a 5 round war with former UFC interim champ Dustin Poirier back in 2020, the Kiwi has only had one win against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266.
On the other hand, Claudio Puelles a Peruvian native is on the rise in the division with a five-fight win streak. After a failed debut against Martin Bravo which he lost via TKO. The Prince of Peru bounced back racking five wins in his next five bouts in the promotion. His last win was against a UFC vet Clay Guida at UFC Fight Night 205 via Submission.
Related: “I’ll smash ya face in”- Dan Hooker trains his aim at UFC veteran Tony Ferguson
Dan Hooker joins teammate and Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on the UFC 281 card
As the Hangman is eager to get back into the win column, the Prince of Peru will look to cash in on his momentum and try to take out one of the top prospects in the division. Hooker will join his teammate Adesanya who is set to face his Kickboxing rival Alex Pereira for the Middleweight crown in the main event.
In addition to this fight Adesanya and Hooker’s teammate, Brad Riddell will also compete on the MSG card as he’ll face Renato Moicano in a Lightweight showdown. Moicano’s management team KOReps first revealed the bout on Instagram on Friday.
Also Read: Watch: Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Team CKB go fishing ahead of UFC 276
The addition of Hooker and Puelles to the UFC 281 card which already consists of two exciting title fights will surely make fans tune in for the fight card. The main event will feature a Middleweight title bout between the reigning champ Israel Adesanya and his Kickboxing rival Alex Pereira. While the co-main features a Strawweight clash between newly crowned champion Carla Esparza and former champion Zhang Weili.
What are your thoughts on the Lightweight matchup between the Hangman and the Prince of Peru? Do you think that the Kiwi will bounce back with a win at UFC 281 or will the rising contender add another win over a vet to his MMA record? Let us know in the comments below.
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Abhijit Singh
(125 Articles Published)