On This Day in 2020: UFC Fans Witnessed One of the Best All-out Wars of the Modern Era

Image Credit: UFC – https://www.ufcespanol.com/news/best-fights-ufc-apex-fight-nights-0

On this day in 2020, just months after the world shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC gave fans something to remember forever.

In the main event of UFC Vegas 4, two of the lightweight division’s most dangerous men, Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker, stepped into the UFC Apex for what would become an instant classic.

Coming off a title unification loss to the seemingly unstoppable Khabib Nurmagomedov, Poirier was looking to re-establish himself in the crowded 155-pound title picture. But the UFC didn’t give him a tune-up fight. Instead, they matched him with a surging contender in Dan Hooker, a sniper from New Zealand who has violent intentions with everything he throws in the octagon.

What unfolded over the next 25 minutes was nothing short of breathtaking, and five years on, this fight is still talked about as one of the best wars in UFC history.

On This Day in 2020: Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker Slugged it Out For 25 Minutes

From the opening bell, both men fought with a clear intent to get the knockout. Hooker came out sharp and hurt Poirier early, and arguably took the first two rounds with his volume and relentless pressure. In those moments, it looked like "The Hangman" was going to get his hand raised.

But then came the momentum shift. Poirier, one of MMA’s most battle-hardened veterans, dug deep. He weathered the storm and began pouring on punches in bunches, landing elbows and combinations at will. It was the kind of fight where both men left parts of themselves in the cage.

Poirier won a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-46). In the aftermath, Poirier praised Hooker’s toughness, calling him one of the hardest hitters he’d ever faced. But for Hooker, the cost may have been even greater. Though he remained a top-tier fighter and continued to take big-name fights, many fans and analysts agree that the New Zealander was never quite the same after that night.

This was arguably the most brutal war in recent UFC history, particularly in the lightweight division. The 155-pounds weight class has given fight fans plenty of insane moments over the last five years, including last year’s UFC 300 bout between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway, which produced one of the most stunning and viral knockouts in combat sports.

It’s quite fitting that we’re talking about this on the eve of UFC 317, which is headlined by Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. This one has war written all over it, so let’s hope we’re talking about this one in five years time in the same vein as Poirier vs Hooker.

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.