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After Dustin Poirier initially shut down Dan Hooker’s request for a fight last year, it seems the second time was the charm for “The Hangman.” Shortly after Hooker defeated Paul Felder at UFC Fight Night 168 a few weeks ago in Auckland, New Zealand (highlights), he called for a fight against Poirier once again, assuming Al Iaquinta was too busy.
Much to Hooker’s delight, Poirier’s response was more receptive this time around, and now it seems the two men are on a lightweight collision course which could get one man closer to a shot at the title.
According to MMA Junkie, though not yet official, the two talented lightweights are in talks to headline the upcoming UFC Fight Night 175 event, which is set to go down on May 16, 2020 in San Diego, Calif.
After collecting his third straight win against Felder, Hooker made the leap into the Top 5, bringing his mark to seven wins in his last eight fights inside the Octagon. Poirier, meanwhile, was last seen coming up short in his bid to dethrone 155-pound champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, at UFC 242 last September.
The loss snapped “The Diamond’s” tremendous five-fight win streak which saw him score wins over the likes of Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, and Max Holloway to claim the interim lightweight title. A win over Hooker would be a sure-fire way to get him right back in the thick of the championship race.
You know the players, care to offer up your early predictions?