Iaquinta-Hooker Reportedly Set for UFC 243

By Fight Sports Aug 11, 2019

While the UFC Lightweight Title scene is as busy as can be, there still needs to be fights for potential contenders. While they wait for their next turn at gold, Al Iaquinta and Dan Hooker will reportedly get a chance to stay fresh against one another.

According to ESPN, Iaquinta (14-5-1) and Hooker (18-8) are set to face off at UFC 243. Taking place on October 6 inside Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, the main event of the show will be Israel Adesanya v. Robert Whittaker for the Undisputed Middleweight Championship.

Once on a five-fight win streak, Iaquinta was a replacement opponent for Tony Ferguson and Max Holloway against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223. While he lost, Iaquinta impressed many for going the full five rounds. Since then, Iaquinta beat Kevin Lee via unanimous decision before losing to Donald Cerrone last May via UD.

On a four-fight win streak, Hooker lost to Edson Barboza via TKO back in December. The main event of that card? Lee v. Iaquinta. He rebounded back in July, beating James Vick via round-one KO. Following that bout, Hooker made an open challenge to anyone willing to fight on the Australia card, hoping to join his friend Adesanya. Iaquinta happily obliged.