Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker needed a win to secure their spot near the top of the UFC Lightweight Division, but only one fighter secured that much needed win and that fighter was Poirier.
The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion scored a unanimous decision victory over Hooker in the main event of UFC Vegas 4. This bout will instantly go down as a classic in the annals of UFC history, while also being a contender for Fight Of The Year.
Fightful provided live coverage of the event and here are highlights from the fifth round of the classic encounter:
Round Five: The round begins with Hooker attacking Poirier with some leg kicks, Poirier charges forward and he cracks Hooker with a few punches. Poirier and Hooker also exchange a bunch of jabs, Poirier then nails Hooker with a kick to the midsection. Poirier backs up Hooker after landing a few lefts, Poirier nails Hooker with a combination before clinching with him. The fighters separate and Poirier cracks Hooker with more lefts, Hooker scores a takedown on Poirier and he gets him in a seated position. Poirier scrambles to his feet and he nails Hooker with a three punch combination, Hooker also lands some counter strikes on a swinging Poirier. The fighters clinch and exchange a bunch of strikes, Hooker looks for the takedown as Poirier nails him with more strikes. Poirier gets Hooker to the ground and he lands a few strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Poirier (Final Score: 48-47 for Poirier)
Official Result: #3 Dustin Poirier def. #5 Dan Hooker by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-46)
There is no word yet on what could be next for the victorious Poirier, but that future should be clearer when UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje battle in the main event of UFC 253.
