UFC free fight: Islam Makhachev submits Dan Hooker in Round 1

Islam Makhachev continued to impress when he faced one of his toughest tests to date.

Originally scheduled to meet former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, Makhachev ended up drawing Dan Hooker instead at UFC 267 this past October.

Hooker’s long and rangy striking was projected to pose problems for Makhachev, but it didn’t take long for the elite grappler to take the fight to his world. Less than a minute into the contest, Makhachev was able to duck under for a takedown and drive Hooker to the mat.

From that point on, Makhachev put on a ground clinic, cinching in a kimura for the first-round submission and his ninth win in a row.

Makhachev (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) returns to action Saturday when he takes on another short-notice replacement in Bobby Green (29-12-1 MMA, 10-7-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 202, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Before he faces Green, relive Makhachev’s finish of Hooker in the video above.