Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight
contender Islam
Makhachev has scored an exciting replacement opponent for his
bout in October. The UFC’s broadcast partner of ESPN
announced on Thursday that Dan Hooker
(21-10) has stepped in against Makhachev (20-1) at
UFC 267. Makhachev was initially slated to face Rafael dos
Anjos, but their pairing was
scratched for the third time last week due to knee surgery for
the Brazilian. Hooker vs. Makhachev will likely take place on the
main card of this Oct. 30 event that will be held at the Etihad
Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Hooker competed on Sept. 25 at UFC 266, receiving his visa and
flying into the U.S. mere days before the event to make weight and
defeat Nasrat
Haqparast by a spirited decision. The win ended a two-fight
skid for the Kiwi, who had fallen short to Dustin
Poirier in a “Fight of the Year” contender in 2020, and then
came back to get knocked out by UFC newcomer Michael
Chandler in January. The City Kickboxing export known as “The
Hangman” has beaten names like Gilbert
Burns, Paul Felder
and Jim
Miller in a UFC career that began in 2014.
Dagestan native Makhachev has surged his way through the
lightweight division since falling short to Adriano
Martins in 2015. An eight-fight win streak, with dominant
victories over the likes of Drew Dober,
Thiago
Moises and Arman
Tsarukyan bolster a resume that has earned him a place among
the elite of the division. Oft derided as a decision-friendly
fighter, three of the last five victories for Makhachev have ended
by submission.
UFC 267 will post up in the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates, on Oct. 30 with two title fights on the billing. Serving
as the main event is a light heavyweight title fight that will
combine for 80 years of age between Jan
Blachowicz and Glover
Teixeira. The co-headliner has changed recently as well, with
an interim bantamweight strap up for grabs between ex-champ
Petr
Yan and Cory
Sandhagen. An important heavyweight scrap between Alexander
Volkov and Marcin
Tybura will likely see main card placement as well.
