UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker
{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2020}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker
|image=UFC_Fight_Night_Felder_vs._Hooker_Official_Poster.jpg
|promotion=Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date={{start date|2020|02|23}}
|venue= Spark Arena
|city= Auckland, New Zealand
|previousevent=UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2
|followingevent=UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo
}}
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker (also known as UFC Fight Night 168 and UFC on ESPN+ 26) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 23, 2020, at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2019/11/17/20969958/ufc-returns-to-new-zealand-for-ufc-fight-night-auckland-on-february-23rd-2020|title=UFC returns to New Zealand for UFC Fight Night Auckland on February 23rd, 2020|author=Ryan Harkness|publisher=mmamania.com|date=2019-11-17|access-date=2019-11-26}}
Background
The event was the third time that the promotion has hosted in Auckland and first since UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt in June 2017.
A lightweight bout between Paul Felder and Dan Hooker served as the event headliner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12289123|title=Kiwi Dan Hooker confirmed as main event for UFC Auckland|author=Staff|publisher=nzherald.co.nz|date=2019-11-27|access-date=2019-11-27}}
A light heavyweight bout between Tyson Pedro and Vinicius Moreira was scheduled for the event. However, Pedro pulled out of the fight in early January citing an undisclosed injury. In turn, promotion officials elected to remove Moreira from the card entirely.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Tyson-Pedro-Withdraws-From-UFC-Auckland-168249|title=Tyson Pedro withdraws from UFC Auckland|author=Jay Pettry|publisher=sherdog.com|date=2020-01-02|access-date=2020-01-02}}
A women's flyweight bout between Rachael Ostovich and Shana Dobson was scheduled for the event. However, Ostovich pulled out of the fight for an unknown reason and was replaced by Priscila Cachoeira.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/01/rachael-ostovich-out-shana-dobson-vs-priscila-cachoeira-ufc-on-espn-plus-26-auckland-new-zealand|title=Rachael Ostovich out, Shana Dobson now meets Priscila Cachoeira at UFC on ESPN+ 26 in Auckland|date=2020-01-24|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|access-date=2020-01-25}}
A women's strawweight bout between Loma Lookboonmee and Hannah Goldy was scheduled for the event. However, Goldy pulled out due to a shoulder injury and was replaced by former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Angela Hill.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/02/ufc-auckland-angela-hill-vs-loma-lookboonmee-short-notice|title=Angela Hill steps in to fight Loma Lookboonmee on short notice at UFC on ESPN+ 26|author=Farah Hannoun|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|access-date=2020-02-05|date=2020-02-05}}
A lightweight bout between Jamie Mullarkey and Jalin Turner was scheduled for the event. However, Mullarkey withdrew from the event due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Joshua Culibao.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightnewsaustralia.com/joshua-culibao-signs-with-ufc-set-to-debut-at-ufc-auckland/|title=Joshua Culibao signs with UFC; set to debut at UFC Auckland|publisher=fightnewsaustralia.com|author=Staff|date=2020-02-06|access-date=2020-02-06}}
A welterweight bout between Maki Pitolo and Takashi Sato was scheduled for the preliminary portion of the card. However, the bout was cancelled as Pitolo failed to make it to the scale during the weigh-ins after falling ill and the matchup was called off by medical personnel.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/02/maki-pitolo-vs-takashi-sato-illness-ufc-on-espn-plus-26-lineup|title=Maki Pitolo vs. Takashi Sato scratched from UFC on ESPN+ 26 lineup|date=2020-02-21|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Mike Bohn|access-date=2020-02-21}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47)
|5
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|Submission (kimura)
|1
|3:29
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–26)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|Ben Sosoli
|TKO (punches)
|1
|1:28
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|3:21
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|2
|3:01
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|2:20
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Strawweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|KO (punch)
|1
|0:40
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/2/22/21147655/ufc-auckland-bonuses-dan-hooker-paul-felder-take-home-fight-of-the-night-five-round-slugfest|title=UFC Auckland bonuses: Dan Hooker, Paul Felder take home 'Fight of the Night' following five round slugfest|author=Newswire|date=2020-02-22|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2020-02-23}}
- Fight of the Night: Dan Hooker vs. Paul Felder
- Performance of the Night: Jimmy Crute and Priscila Cachoeira
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts|New Zealand}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2020 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:Mixed martial arts in New Zealand
Category:2020 in mixed martial arts