Kiwi fighter Dan Hooker's efforts at UFC Fight Night Milwaukee haven't gone unnoticed, with the lightweight earning praise from UFC boss Dana White.
Hooker, 28, fell to a third round loss to Brazil's Edson Barboza yesterday afternoon, showing incredible courage and toughness to withstand a barrage of blows from his fifth ranked opponent.
Speaking to Fox Sports after the fight though, White went into detail about his admiration for Hooker's performance, noting the Kiwi's bravery and toughness to keep fighting after taking such heavy blows.
"There's a lot of tough guys and girls in this sport, OK," White began.
"He gets to the back, refuses crutches, refuses help to walk, gets into the area where the physicians look at him and was just so upset with himself. He's got nothing to be upset about.
"He showed a ton of toughness tonight, ton of heart. The fight actually should have been stopped earlier than it was."
Hooker's record now sits at 17 wins and eight defeats, as he tries to make a name for himself as a UFC fighter.
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