UFC on ESPN 12 results: Dustin Poirier edges Dan Hooker in all-time classic

When Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker was announced as the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 12, it figured to be a shoo-in for “Fight of the Night” honors, and even a possibility for “Fight of the Year” consideration.

Not only did we get both, but the lightweight fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas ended up being one that likely will be name-checked on the list of the greatest UFC fights of all-time.

The two competitors attacked one another with a reckless abandon for 25 minutes in a bloody and bruising affair that ebbed and flowed.

Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC), a former interim lightweight champion, had more gas in the tank in the final round and finished strong, which spelled the difference in a tremendous fight. The judges’ scores were 48-47, 48-47, and 48-46 for Poirier, who won for the sixth time in his past seven bouts.

Both fighters let their intentions be known early as they belted one another with full-force kicks both low and to the midsection. Hooker (20-9 MMA, 10-5 UFC) got the best of things in the opening round, as he landed leg kicks and punches to the body.

The second round was, quite simply, one of the most frantic rounds in the history of the sport. The duo hit each other with everything but the kitchen sink. Wild exchanges in the pocket included Poirier seamlessly transitioning from elbows to punches mid-combo, while Hooker repeatedly found a home with crisp jabs.

Hooker appeared to be up two-love after the first two rounds, but Poirier was just getting started. While both guys continued pummeling each other and walking through shots that would end fights against less hardy foes on the spot, Poirier noticeably went to work with his ground game, working for submission after submission even when he found himself on his back.

While the fight seemed even heading into the fifth, Poirier, who was competing in his eighth UFC main event, simply looked like he had been there more often and controlled the final five minutes and ended the fight landing punches up until the final horn.

“I trusted in my team and my skill and I pulled another one out,” said Poirier, who competed for the first time since losing to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in September 2019. “I feel like I had another few rounds in me.”

The victory was the seventh decision win of Poirier’s career. Hooker had a three-fight win streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 12 results include:

Dustin Poirier def. Dan Hooker via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-46)
Mike Perry def. Mickey Gall via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Maurice Greene def. Gian Villante via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 3:44
Brendan Allen def. Kyle Daukaus via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27)
Takashi Sato def. Jason Witt via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:48
Julian Erosa def. Sean Woodson via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 3, 2:44
Khama Worthy def. Luis Pena via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 2:53
Tanner Boser def. Philipe Lins via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:41
Kay Hansen def. Jinh Yu Frey via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 2:26
Youssef Zalal def. Jordan Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)