Hooker says Iaquinta is ducking fight, challenges Hernandez

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Dan Hooker insists Al Iaquinta is refusing to fight him, so he has a new challenge in mind.

Dan Hooker and Al Iaquinta have been going back-and-forth on social media, but Hooker insists Iaquinta does not want the smoke.

Enter Alexander Hernandez. Hooker is getting tired of Iaquinta’s supposed and has lightweight fight in mind.

“He keeps saying he wants it; I said that’s the fight to make,” Hooker told MMA Junkie. “If I’m lying, the fight would be booked already.” Hooker insists Iaquinta is “not taking the fight; I’ll fight [Alexander] Hernandez.”

Hooker bounced back phenomenally from a torturous third-round TKO loss to Edson Barboza back in December. He emphatically knocked out James Vick in under three minutes at UFC San Antonio on July 20.

Hernandez is another fighter who returned to his winning ways — on the same card as Hooker no less — after being TKO’d by an establish striker. Hernandez was finished in the second round vs. Donald Cerrone at UFC Brooklyn in January before winning a contentious decision over Francisco Trinaldo at UFC San Antonio.

Hooker and Iaquinta have been going back-and-forth on social media ever since Hooker’s victory over Vick. Both men seem game, but Hooker is accusing Iaquinta of ducking the fight behind-the-scenes.