Challenge accepted. Al Iaquinta and Dan Hooker reportedly have verbally agreed to a lightweight bout at UFC 243 on October 5 in Melbourne, Australia.
After Dan Hooker knocked out James Vick last month in San Antonio, the lightweight contender issued a challenge to fight anyone in the division at UFC 243 so that he can compete on the same card as his friend and training partner Israel Adesanya. It didn't take long for Al Iaquinta to step up and accept the challenge via Twitter.
Now, it's just about official with the two expected to sign the deal in the coming days.
Hooker (18-8) is the No. 14 ranked UFC lightweight. He knocked out James Vick in the first round last month. Iaquinta (14-5-1) is the No. 6 ranked lightweight and is looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Donald Cerrone in May.
UFC 243 will be held on October 5 in Melbourne, Australia. The card will be headlined with a middleweight unification fight between interim champ Israel Adesanya and current Robert Whittaker.
Whittaker hasn't fought since June 2018. He was slated to fight Kelvin Gastelum in November 2018 but has to withdraw just hours before the event due to an abdominal hernia and collapsed bowel which required emergency surgery. He has been recovering from the surgery since, but is finally ready to return and defend his belt.