UFC Fight Night: Felder vs Hooker
2-22-20
From Auckland, New Zealand
Available on ESPN+
By Dylan Hager
2020 Picks Record:
Overall 21-27
Main Card 13-8
Prelim 8-19
UFC is back down under this weekend as Auckland, New Zealand welcomes the Octagon. Auckland's own Dan Hooker will be in the main event opposite fellow Lightweight contender Paul Felder. This card doesn't have the most name value, but there are several very good fights featured this weekend. Time to pick!
Paul Felder (17-4) (6) vs Dan Hooker (19-8) (7)
Violence is guaranteed in this Lightweight main event! Paul Felder travels to enemy territory to fight Dan Hooker. The winner should be vaulted into the top five in the rankings and could be one win away from a title shot.
"The Irish Dragon" Paul Felder comes in having won five of his six fights, including his last two over James Vick and Edson Barboza. I think Felder is underrated as a fighter because he is so good as a broadcaster. He has yet to reach championship gold like fellow commentators Daniel Cormier and Dom Cruz, but he is very dangerous inside the eight sided cage. Felder is a great eight-point striker. He has only been finished once, and that came by way of a doctor stoppage.
Dan "The Hangman" Hooker gets to fight in front of fellow countrymen. He also comes in on a two fight win streak, and he has won six of his last seven. The one loss came at the hands of Edson Barboza, and his last two wins came against James Vick and Al Iaquinta. Hooker is dangerous as a striker and a submission artist, picking up ten career TKO finishes and seven career submission wins.
Hooker will have the slightest of height advantages, but he does have almost a four inch reach advantage. If the fight goes to the ground, I do think Hooker will have the edge, but it is a toss up on the feet. Both goes have finishing ability, but they are incredibly hard to finish. I really think we see a full five rounds in this one. I have been back and forth on a prediction since the fight was announced. I love both fighters. I'll probably be rooting for Felder, but I think Hooker edges out a decision in his home country. Prediction: Dan Hooker Decision
Jimmy Crute (10-1) vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (14-3 (1))
Light Heavyweight battle between two guys looking to break into the top 15 in the 205 division. Jimmy Crute returns to the Octogan for the first time after his suffering his first loss last September. He will be standing opposite the powerful Michal Oleksiejczuk. Crute has UFC wins over Paul Craig and Sam Alvey. His only career loss came at the hands of Misha Cirkunov last September. Olekseijczuk has wins over Gian Villante and Gadzhimurad Antigulov. He also lost in his last fight as he was choked out by OSP. Crute is well rounded. I'd give Crute the edge on the ground, but Oleksiejczuk has the power edge. It will be interesting to see who responds the best following their loss. I like Crute's chances better the longer the fight goes, and I think he gets a late submission win. Prediction: Jimmy Crute 3rd Round Submission
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-5) (14) vs Yan Xiaonan (11-1 (1))
Women's Strawweight is such a strong division, and I expect this fight to show just how deep it is. Former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz makes her return to the cage Saturday night when she is opposed by China's Yan Xiaonan. Karolina has struggled since her title fight, going 2-4 in her last six fights. The losses have came against the top of the division however, as her last three fights have been losses to former champ Jessica Andrade, Michelle Waterson, and Alexa Grasso. Yan on the other hand, is 4-0 in the UFC. All four wins have been by decision, and her last win came against Angie Hill last June. I really don't see either fighter getting a finish in this one. A desperate fighter is a dangerous fighter, and that is why I'm picking Karolina in this one. I think she'll do what it takes to stop this losing streak before it reaches that four fight mark. Prediction: Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision
Ben Sosoli (7-2 (2)) vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima (16-6-1)
Heavyweight fighters Ben Sosoli and Marcos Rogerio de Lima will collide this weekend. The "Combat Wombat" Sosoli is coming off two "No Contest" fights in a row, one to Dustin Joynson and the other to Greg Hardy. De Lima has much more UFC experience, but he has alternated wins and losses in his eight fights. It is Heavyweight MMA; both guys have KO power. I'd give de Lima the edge on the ground and probably a slight edge on the feet. As much as I love the "Combat Wombat" name, I've got to go de Lima in this one. Prediction: Marcos Rogerio de Lima Decision
Brad Riddell (7-1) vs Magomed Mustafaev (15-2)
Brad Riddell returns to the Octagon following a successful debut last October. He'll be opposed by the veteran Magomed Mustafaev. Mustafaev is 3-1 in the UFC. All three wins have come by TKO, and the one loss was to Kevin Lee. Mustafaev will have the advantage on the ground and probably the feet as well. Riddell showed a lot of toughness in his debut, and he has finishing power, but I don't like his chances on Saturday. Prediction: Magomed Mustafaev 3rd Round TKO
Kevin Aguilar (17-2) vs Zubaira Tukhugov (18-4-1)
Kevin Aguilar makes his return to competition following his first loss in the UFC. Standing opposite him will be Zubaira Tukhugov. Tukhugov had won nine straight before falling to Renato Moicano in May 2016 and going to a draw with Lerone Murphy last September. Aguilar won nine straight fights before running into Dan Ige last June. Both fighters are better on their feet than they are on the ground. This should be an exciting fight and the perfect way to start the main card. I like Aguilar to finish this one late. Prediction: Kevin Aguilar 3rd Round TKO
Six fights on the prelim card this week. I'm a big fan of both Kai Kara-France and Jake Matthews, both of whom will be fighting close to home. The Loma Lookboonmee vs Angie Hill fight should be fireworks, and Jalin Turner is always fun to watch. Don't sleep on the prelims! Quick picks as always.
Jalin Turner (8-5) vs Joshua Culibao (8-0) Prediction: Jalin Turner
Jake Matthews (15-4) vs Emil Weber Meek (9-4 (1)) Prediction: Jake Matthews
Callan Potter (18-8) vs Song Kenan (15-5) Prediction: Callan Potter
Kai Kara-France (20-8 (1)) (8) vs Tyson Nam (18-10-1) Prediction: Kai Kara-France
Loma Lookboonmee (4-1) vs Angela Hill (11-7) Prediction: Loma Lookboonmee
Priscila Cachoeira (8-3) vs Shana Dobson (3-3) Prediction: Shana Dobson
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