UFC president Dana White thinks the fight between Edson Barboza and Dan Hooker at UFC Milwaukee should not have lasted as long as it did.
This past weekend in the main event of UFC Milwaukee, Edson Barboza rebounded off consecutive losses by picking up a third-round knockout win against Dan Hooker.
Barboza showed off his superior stand-up in the fight against the rising contender Hooker. Chopping up the New Zealander’s legs to the point where he could barely walk, Barboza dropped Hooker in the third round with a body shot that led to the finish.
Talking to FOX after Barboza’s win, the UFC president criticized referee Rob Hinds’ stoppage of the fight, and praised Hooker’s resilience.
”He’s got not to be upset about. He showed a ton of toughness tonight, a ton of heart,” White said when discussing Hooker. “Fight actually should have been stopped earlier than it was.”
”And Edson Barboza? Wow, that kid came out tonight and made a statement. He’s nasty.”
Looks like @danawhite is going to have some tough decisions ahead with the lightweight division! pic.twitter.com/scMypHgGNC
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 16, 2018
Barboza (20-6) picked up his fourteenth win for the UFC on the night against Hooker. Prior to the win, he lost consecutive fights to Kevin Lee and Khabib Nurmagomedov.