Paul Felder vs Dan Hooker UFC Predictions & Tips - 2/22/2020

Paul Felder vs Dan Hooker

UFC Fight Night 168

Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Paul Felder will enter the Octagon against Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 168 in Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, February 22, 2020. The opening moneyline has Felder at +115 while Hooker is at -135.

Paul "The Irish Dragon" Felder comes into this bout with a mark of 17-4-0. The 35-year-old steps on the scale at 155 lbs and stands in at 5' 11". The orthodox fighter stretches 70". Dan "The Hangman" Hooker stands 6' 0" and is weighing in at 155 lbs. The switch fighter has a career mark of 20-8-0. The 30-year-old has a wingspan of 75". Regarding significant strikes, Paul Felder is connecting on 3.55 per min while Dan Hooker connects on 4.73 significant strikes per minute. Felder is connecting on 43% of the significant strikes he tries and Hooker is landing 44%. When it comes to the fighter's defense, "The Irish Dragon" allows 3.17 significant strikes per minute and "The Hangman" allows 4.72. Felder also stops 50% of the significant strikes his opponents throw his way and Hooker is able to stop 55% of the shots thrown his way.

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In terms of wrestling, Paul Felder is not as effective of a wrestler as he takes his opponents to the canvas 0.29 times per 3 rounds. Felder is scoring a takedown on 27% of his attempts and defending 59% of the tries against him. Hooker is finishing his takedown attempts on 33% of the takedowns he tries and is defending 78% of the tries against him. Regarding going for the sub, Felder is not as skilled of a technician by attempting 0.3 submissions per 3 rds while Hooker looks to get 0.4 submissions per 15 min.

The last time he fought, Paul Felder fought Edson Barboza and ended up getting the win by way of split decision in round 3. Barboza landed 77 of 133 of the strikes he threw in total in this fight. Felder walked away from this fight having landed 75 of 174 total strikes. Concerning significant strikes, Barboza ended up landing 60 of 114, which gave him a percentage of 52%. He finished the fight landing 27 of 74 significant strikes directed at the head. Statistically, Felder landed 36% of his significant strikes by sticking 56 of 154. In regard to the placement of these significant strikes, he was 41 of 137 to the head. 91% of the significant strikes landed by Barboza and 91% of them connected on by Felder were done at a distance.

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In the last bout for Dan Hooker, he went up against Al Iaquinta and wound up taking home the win by unanimous decision in round 3. Iaquinta ended up connecting on 100% of his significant strikes at distance and Hooker connected on 77% of the significant strikes he attempted at distance. Hooker landed 47% of the significant strikes he attempted by connecting on 98 of 207. He connected on 68 of 168 significant strikes directed at the head. Iaquinta ended up landing 37 of 116 significant strikes in that contest. Out of all the significant strikes thrown, he landed 21 of 93 to the head. Discussing total strikes that he threw in that fight, Iaquinta was 38 of 117 and Hooker was 104 of 213 of all the strikes he attempted.

Other bouts on the card to keep an eye on

One more match to look forward to is when Jimmy Crute faces off with Michal Oleksiejczuk. Crute holds a career mark of 10-1-0. The 23-year-old tips the scales at 205 lbs and stands in at 6' 2". The orthodox fighter reaches 74". Oleksiejczuk comes in at 6' 0" and is weighing in at 205 lbs. The southpaw fighter will be looking to add a win to his career record of 14-3-0. The 24-year-old stretches 74". In terms of takedowns, Jimmy Crute takes his opponents to the mat 0.58 times per 15 min while Michal Oleksiejczuk takes his opponents to the mat 1.20 times per 15 minutes. In terms of striking, Crute connects on 4.56 strikes per minute and connecting on 57% of his attempted strikes. On the other side we have Michal Oleksiejczuk, who tags the opposition on 56% of the strikes he has tried and connects for an average of 5.39 per min.

An additional fight that you're going to want to see is when Takashi Sato is set to fight Maki Pitolo. Pitolo comes into this bout with a record of 12-5-0. The 29-year-old records a weight of 170 lbs and stands in at 5' 10". The orthodox fighter has an arm span of 75". Sato stands 5' 10" and will fight at 170 lbs. The southpaw fighter holds a career mark of 15-3-0. The 29-year-old has a reach of 73". Concerning wrestling, Maki Pitolo is stopping 25% of the takedowns fighters have gone for and is finishing his takedown attempts on 10% of his tries. Sato is taking his opponents to the mat on 50% of his tries and is able to curb 77% of all takedown attempts. In the matter of striking, Pitolo is absorbing 3.43 strikes/minute while he deals 5.42 strikes/minute. Sato, moreover, takes 5.22 strikes/minute and deals 3.13 per minute.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Paul Felder (+115)

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