Dan Hooker vs. Paul Felder set for UFC Auckland main event on Feb. 22

A lightweight banger is set for the UFC Auckland main event.

Dan Hooker(19-8 MMA, 9-4 UFC) faces Paul Felder (17-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) on Feb. 22. The UFC announced the fight Wednesday not long after Hooker announced the matchup himself on Twitter.

Felder issued a cryptic tweet Tuesday that was two emojis long: a champagne bottle and a smiley face.

BREAKING: @felderpaul will take on @danthehangman in the #UFCAuckland main event 🔥

Tickets on sale Dec 6th. Register at https://t.co/nye8CF830H to get pre-sale access 🎟🎟 pic.twitter.com/ztO2GVGBLj

— UFC Aus/New Zealand (@UFC_AUSNZ) November 27, 2019

 

UFC Auckland Main Event! 👊

Im going to smash Paul Felder's face in.

February 23rd, Spark Arena.

Follow the link for ticket information: https://t.co/bKS7JGRtaO pic.twitter.com/7w2G5kWBgs

— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) November 27, 2019

🍾😎

— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) November 26, 2019

Since moving up to lightweight, Hooker has won six of seven bouts, with his lone loss coming at the hands of Edson Barboza. He is coming off a “Performance of the Night” knockout over James Vick, and a unanimous decision over Al Iaquinta in October. He gets the opportunity to headline a show at home in the first main event of his UFC career.

Felder has faced similar opposition in his most recent few outings, winning four of his past five fights. He is coming off back-to-back wins over Vick and, most recently, a split decision over Barboza at UFC 242, avenging his loss from their previous meeting in 2015.

UFC Auckland takes place Feb. 22 (Sunday, Feb. 23 locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland. The card is likely to stream on ESPN+.