Edson Barboza unleashed a savage beating on Dan Hooker in the UFC on Fox 31 co-main event, but “The Hangman” showed incredible toughness for surviving as long as he did.
While Barboza finished the fight with a left hook to the liver at the 2:19 mark of round three, it was all the damage that Hooker absorbed leading up to that point that was truly concerning. The Brazilian battered his opponent with wicked kicks to the legs and body while attacking at various levels with his punches, as well. The body blows were especially brutal, but somehow Hooker seemed inhuman as he continued coming forward.
“Dan is a really tough guy, he is top 15 in the world for a reason. He’s young and has a great future. I landed good, clean shots, but I fight the best guys in the world, so I just had to keep going,” Barboza said.
After the bout, UFC president Dana White followed Hooker backstage to check on the New Zealand native. White believes the stoppage came late, but it sounded as though Hooker’s pride was more hurt than anything else.
“I was worried,” White said on Fox Sports 1. “There’s a lot of tough guys and girls in this sport. He gets to the back, refuses crutches, refuses help to walk. Gets into the area where the physicians look at him and was just so upset with himself. He’s got nothing to be ashamed about. He showed ton of toughness tonight, a ton of heart.
“The fight actually should have been stopped earlier than it was.”
The defeat halted a four-bout finishing streak for “The Hangman,” who had been impressive in stoppages of Gilbert Burns, Jim Miller, Marc Diakiese and Ross Pearson. Barboza, meanwhile, rebounded, from back-to-back beatings at the hands of wrestling-based foes Kevin Lee and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“Edson Barboza, wow,” White said. “That kid came out and made a statement. He’s nasty.”