UFC Auckland: Watch Dan Hooker Explain How Paul Felder Triggered Him, Made Fight Personal

On paper, there was already lots to like about Saturday’s fight between Dan Hooker and Paul Felder. But the fact the fight also has a beef tied to it now, doesn’t hurt either.

Hooker explains the issue with Felder

As you can see by watching the video below, when Hooker first called out Felder, it was solely for professional reasons. But, Felder ended up taking a social media poke at Hooker’s last name, and clearly the dangerous striker didn’t care for it.

Beef aside, Hooker (19-8) is coming off a decision win over Al Iaquinta and he’s gone 4-1 in his last 5 bouts.

Felder (17-4) worked his way to a split decision victory over Edson Barboza in his last outing, and he’s also 4-1 in his last 5 fights.

Hooker is currently ranked #7 in the UFC’s 155 division and Felder is #6.

UFC Auckland line-up

Here is the complete line-up for UFC Auckland, which will be hosted by the New Zealand city’s Spark Arena. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the prelims get underway at 4 p.m. ET.

Lightweight: Paul Felder vs. Dan Hooker

Light Heavyweight: Jimmy Crute vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Female Strawweight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Yan Xiaonan

Heavyweight: Ben Sosoli vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima

Lightweight: Brad Riddell vs. Magomed Mustafaev

Featherweight: Kevin Aguilar vs. Zubaira Tukhugov

Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Emil Weber Meek

Welterweight: Callan Potter vs. Song Kenan

Flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Tyson Nam

Female Strawweight: Loma Lookboonmee vs. Angela Hill

Welterweight: Maki Pitolo vs. Takashi Sato

Female Flyweight: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Shana Dobson