Dan Hooker vs Claudio Puelles Prediction: Winner will need more than one round

After a foray in featherweight, Dan Hooker returns to lightweight to try to end the losing skid he is currently on. The New Zealand native takes on Peruvian Claudio Puelles in the first fight of the main card of UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden in New York. With one win in his last five fights, Dan Hooker is still the favorite going into the bout against young grappler Puelles who is unbeaten since joining the UFC and is currently on a five-match winning streak. We preview the fight here and provide a winning prediction. 

32-year-old New Zealander is ranked number 12 in the UFC lightweight rankings. His recent losses must be taken with the knowledge that he lost to top featherweight contender Arnold Allen, lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, former Bellator champ Michael Chandler, and top-ten lightweight fighter Poirier. After the loss to then-newcomer, Michael Chandler at UFC 257 on 24 January 2021, Hooker placed his gloves in the middle of the octagon as a sign of retirement. He later changed his mind and continued in the sport. “Hangman” has won several Performance of the Night and Fight of the Nights awards. He was also the lightweight champion in a regional promotion down under. Prior to his run of losses, Dan Hooker earned seven victories in eight fights, including stoppage wins over Jim Miller and Gilbert Burns, and decision nods over Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder.

Peruvian fighter Claudio Puelles is cruising through the UFC. He arrives in New York city unbeaten in the UFC and riding a five-fight winning streak. The best part is that three of his finishes have come via kneebar submission, the rarely used technique. While the finalist at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 has not fought any headline act in the division, he has been nevertheless impressive in the promotion exuding confidence and panache above his 26 years. Already with two Performance of the Night awards on his resume, El Nino has twelve victories from fourteen professional fights.

The fight is shaping to be a massive bout for the progress of the two fighters in the division. The winner will definitely rise in the rankings. Hooker, who has flirted with resignation will need this win to remind everyone that he is still interested after riding a rocky patch of form. Puelles is working towards a victory over a top fifteen ranked fighter and finally gaining the attention of the entire UFC. This will be certain if he gains a sixth straight win against the number 12-ranked lightweight contender. Looking critically at the odds, the form of the fighters, and what is at stake here, we predict that the fight will go beyond the first round.

• Over 1.5 rounds at 1.53 odds on Bet 365
• Fight to go the distance, 2.573 dos on 1xbet
• Over 2.5 rounds at 2.20 odds on BetKing