BULACAN, Philippines – As Mark Eddiva is set to share the Octagon with Daniel Hooker at UFC Fight Night 85 on March 20, the Filipino fighter is expecting that the New Zealander will engage in a toe-to-toe trade with him.
Eddiva and Hooker are highly regarded for their respective striking backgrounds that earned them a UFC contract in 2014.
The 30-year-old Baguio City native is a well-rounded combatant with a Wushu Sanshou pedigree, who prefers to clobber a straight right-left hook combination and throw hard kicks at all levels but particularly to the legs.
Eddiva spearheaded his prizefighting run in April 2006 when he knocked out his first 3 opponents before pulling off two-straight first-round submission victories.
On the other hand, Hooker is known to be a high-level Muay Thai practitioner, winning 6 of his 12 victories by knockout.
According to the 5-foot-8 Team Lakay representative, it is a no brainer that Hooker will not shy away from his comfort zone and opt to exchange strikes with him.
“More or less, it’s going to be a stand-up battle. Though I have a Wushu background, I can’t say that it will be my advantage in that department because he’s also a striker. But I prefer that kind of fight,” Eddiva told Rappler.
Aside from his finishing his cage foes with strikes, Hooker also presents a serious threat on the mat as he owns 5 submission wins.
In his 10-month hiatus, Eddiva had the opportunity to hone his ground game under the tutelage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt holders Stephen Kamphuis and John Baylon.
After picking up a pair of gold medals in both gi and no-gi categories of last October’s ArteSuave Manila, Baylon awarded Eddiva with a blue belt.
“I am ready wherever the fight will go. I know a tough test is waiting for me, but I am confident with my skills,” Eddiva said of his marquee match-up against Hooker, who is likewise a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Eddiva, who is coming off a two-fight losing skid, believes that a third-straight defeat inside the UFC cage may earn him the pink slip from the UFC.
“I know I am in a must-win situation because another loss in the Octagon can put me out of the UFC,” he stated. “There’s pressure coming into the fight, but I’m prepared for this bout against Daniel Hooker.”
UFC Fight Night 85 takes place at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. – Rappler.com