Neil Rooke said:
The UFC has signed Auckland lightweight Dan Hooker to compete at its trip to New Zealand on June 28.
Sources close to the event have confirmed with The MMA Corner that Hooker will meet fellow debutant Ian Entwistle at UFC Fight Night 43.
The 24-year-old Hooker enters the promotion riding a five-fight winning-streak; all finishes. “The Hangman” began his career just 2-3, but has gone 7-1 over his last eight appearances. Of his 10 career wins, nine have come before the scorecards.
Across the cage from Hooker will be Phuket Top Team product Ian Entwistle. The England native carries a record of 8-1 with six of his wins coming via submission. In his most recent outing, the 27-year-old submitted Liam James in just 24 seconds via heel hook at Cage Warriors 62 in December.
The lightweight affair joins the UFC’s first trip to New Zealand, which emanates from the Vector Arena. The event will air live on the promotion’s digital network, UFC Fight Pass.
The night’s main event features a five-round middleweight clash between former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt and former light heavyweight James Te Huna.
The bout will mark the first time that Te Huna has competed in mixed martial arts on New Zealand soil. The 32-year-old has compiled a 5-3 record in the UFC, including a four-fight winning streak that was snapped by his current skid. The fighter announced that he was dropping to 185 pounds earlier this year after he suffered losses to Glover Teixeira and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Marquardt, meanwhile, will return to the middleweight division for the first time since 2011. The Colorado-based fighter enters the fight having succumbed to knockouts against Hector Lombard and Jake Ellenberger while competing at welterweight. Those losses followed a unanimous decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine under the Strikeforce banner, where Marquardt relinquished his title.
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