The UFC returns to the United Kingdom for the first time in over two years this Saturday. Featherweight contenders will throw down in the evening’s co-main event, and we’re supplementing all your wagering needs.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker, including the updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker
UFC Featherweight Co-Main Event Bout
Saturday, March 19, 2022 – 11:05 PM EDT at O2 Arena
Arnold Allen
- Pro MMA Record: (17-1-0) (5 KOs, 4 submissions)
- Age: 28
- Height: 5'8"
- Reach: 70.0"
- Training Out Of: American Tristar Gym/BKK Fighters
- Origin Fighting Style: MMA
Following an unblemished amateur kickboxing and boxing career, with a combined record of 8-0, Great Britain’s own Arnold Allen has continued a near-unblemished record throughout his entire combat sports career ever since.
Outside of one loss to the talented Marcin Wrzosek in 2014, Allen has remained unbeaten throughout his professional MMA career that initially began in 2012. The well diverse skillset of Allen landed him a UFC contract in 2015, where he’s kept the impressive win streak alive (8-0 UFC), competing against the world's most elite featherweight contenders.
Join Now: $1,000 BMR 12-Week All Sports Challenge
Returning to his home country this weekend will undoubtedly boost the confidence of Allen. Still, a notable opponent in Dan Hooker is a dramatic rise in the level of competition he’s faced thus far.
Arnold Allen Best Available Odds: -110 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Dan Hooker
- Pro MMA Record: (21-11-0) (10 KOs, 7 submissions)
- Age: 32
- Height: 6'0"
- Reach: 75.5"
- Training Out Of: City Kickboxing
- Origin Fighting Style: Kickboxing
32-year-old Dan Hooker has delivered fight fans with some of the most entertaining fights during his eight-year tenure with the UFC. Eight stoppages inside the distance, split between highlight-reel knockouts and submission finishes, previously positioned Hooker amongst the top-10 of the lightweight rankings.
Get Involved: BMR Community
Following a decorated kickboxing career, Hooker transitioned to MMA and brought along the impressive striking technique that served him so well inside the ring. Adapting to the cage didn’t take long, as the well-established City Kickboxing gym in New Zealand has become the home of champions and title contenders.
Hooker hasn’t competed at 135lbs since 2016, but if he can manage his future weight cuts behind a strict discipline, the 6-foot stature of the New Zealander could cause many problems for the division.
Dan Hooker Best Available Odds: -110 at BetOnline
Allen Fight Style and How Can He Beat Hooker?
Allen will want to avoid the kickboxing range with Hooker; whether he boxes, utilizes clinch situations, or wrestles, the main focus should be to stay clear of Hooker whilst he’s on the outside.
Allen is exceptionally well rounded, and an aforementioned game plan is undoubtedly an approach I believe he can deliver.
Suffocate Hooker’s kicks, don’t let him get comfortable at range, make it ugly with pressure and boxing combinations. Additionally, Allen can wrestle, a realm of the fight game where Hooker has often struggled.
Hooker Fight Style and How Can He Beat Allen?
Losing 3 of his previous 5 bouts doesn’t bode well, but the level of competition has been significant – losing to Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and Michael Chandler.
While his jiu-jitsu skillset has sometimes played out and surprised critics, Dan Hooker is primarily a striker and a very good one at that. At range, he’s one of the most dangerous offensive strikers in the business.
Behind an excellent jab, a variety of kicks, beautiful footwork, and level changes, is a knockout artist who poses a threat to any of his opponents.
Betting Picks and UFC London Odds
The available odds at Bookmakers Review are split down the middle with -110 on either side.
Both fighters are so talented that whoever delivers the right game plan will win this bout. For this reason, the most viable betting approach is on the Over 2 ½ rounds.
I don’t expect Allen to stop the fight inside the distance as I believe the winner of this contest will take a victory from the judge’s scorecards. In addition, Allen has never been stopped during his professional career; his durability has shined thus far.
UFC Pick: Over 2½ Rounds (-170) [1.70u to win 1u] at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
