TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: (R-L) Luis Pena of Italy punches Matt Frevola in their lightweight bout … [+]
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The UFC is in Las Vegas for tonight’s UFC on ESPN 12 fight card. The headlining bout features a scrap between former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier faces Dan Hooker in a 155-pound scrap.
Poirier put together a memorable run between February 2017 and April 2019. During that time he went 5-0-0-1 and won the interim 155-pound title. During that stretch he defeated two ex-UFC champions, one ex-World Series of Fighting champ and a current UFC titleholder. After his win over featherweight champ Max Holloway, which earned Poirier the interim lightweight crown, Poirier’s winning ways ended when undisputed lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Poirier in the third round of their September matchup.
Like his UFC on ESPN 12 opponent, Hooker has been on an excellent run. Hooker has one loss between June 2017, when he returned to lightweight from featherweight, and February 2020. That setback was a December 2018 TKO loss to Edson Barboza. Hooker is 7-1 during that time. His most recent outing was a February “Fight of the Night” bonus-winning split-decision victory over Paul Felder.
The fight at the top of the prelims features one of the best fighter nicknames as Luis Pena, who is better known as “Violent Bob Ross,” takes on Khama Worthy in a lightweight contest.
Pena is 2-1 in his past three UFC outings and coming off a February decision win. Worthy has not been as active as Pena. His most recent outing was an August 2019 first-round knockout win over Devonte Smith. That matchup was Worthy’s UFC debut. He is currently riding a six-fight winning streak.
The prelims also feature the debut of 20-year-old Kay Hansen. Hansen moves from Invicta FC to face Jinh Yu Frey in a strawweight bout. Frey, who also last competed for Invicta, also makes her UFC debut tonight. Frey is the former Invicta atomweight champion.
How to Watch UFC on ESPN 12:
UFC on ESPN 12 takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. ESPN broadcasts the entire event, which also streams on ESPN+.
Main Card:
Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
Mike Perry vs. Mickey Gall
Gian Villante vs. Maurice Greene
Brendan Allen vs. Kyle Daukaus
Philipe Lins vs. Tanner Boser
Sean Woodson vs. Julian Erosa
Prelim Card:
Luis Peña vs. Khama Worthy
Takashi Sato vs. Jason Witt
Kay Hansen vs. Jinh Yu Frey
Jordan Griffin vs. Youssef Zalal