Dan Hooker of New Zealand knocks out Jim Miller in their lightweight fight. Photo / Getty
Dan Hooker knows a thing or two about stoppages.
Heading into his bout against UFC legend Jim Miller in Atlantic City, every win the Kiwi had inside the octagon did not go the distance.
He added to that tally against Miller, with a brutal high knee in the first round putting an abrupt end to the bout.
Miller was fighting in his record-equalling 29th UFC bout and looking for the all-time record for wins in the lightweight division, however came up against a determined Hooker.
The Kiwi found himself on his back early in the bout, but was able to fight his way out of the clinch, and soon after made the most of his height and reach advantage, sending Miller to the floor with a right knee to the head.
The win takes the Kiwi's UFC record to 6-3-0, while he moves to 17-7-0 for his overall MMA career.
Hooker went into the bout looking toward fighting a ranked opponent if he got the win. He might get just that, after he called out No.14-ranked lightweight Paul Felder.
After, calling for a round of applause from the crowd for Miller in his post-fight interview, Hooker turned to Felder – who was conducting the interview – and laid down the challenge.
"I want a ranked opponent next, and I just so happen to be standing across from a ranked opponent without a fight," Hooker said to Felder. "So if you'd do me the honour next, we'll get [matchmaker Sean Shelby] to match it up."
Felder, who hasn't had a bout since beating Charles Oliveira in early December last year, was more than happy to respond to the challenge.
"I've been waiting for somebody to actually have some guts and stand here in front of me and say they wanted to fight me," Felder said. "So if Sean Shelby talks to me tonight and tells me he wants me to fight you, you're a tough opponent and I think you deserve someone higher ranked."
'They know how to make a champion. That comes from the culture to begin with.'