Lightweights Dan Hooker, Al Iaquinta Agree to Bout at UFC 243 in Melbourne

A lightweight showdown between Dan Hooker and Al Iaquinta has been verbally agreed to for UFC 243, according to ESPN.com.

Hooker called out Iaquinta following a victory over James Vick at UFC on ESPN 4 on July 20, and “Ragin Al” quickly responded on social media. The bout is expected to be finalized soon.

UFC 243 takes place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Oct. 5 and is headlined by a middleweight title unification bout between reigning champion Robert Whittaker and interim titlist Israel Adesanya.

Hooker has won five of his last six Octagon appearances, with his only setback coming in a brutal beatdown at the hands of Edson Barboza at UFC on Fox 31 this past December. “The Hangman” is 8-4 in UFC competition overall and has finished all of his victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

Iaquinta, meanwhile, dropped a five-round verdict to Donald Cerrone in the UFC Fight Night 151 headliner in his most recent promotional appearance. The 32-year-old Serra-Longo Fight Team representative is 9-4 in the Octagon and 14-5-1 as a professional overall.