The mutual respect between Dan Hooker and Paul Felder went out the window as the pair faced off for the first time ahead of their UFC showdown in Auckland in February.

Hooker captured the attention of the mixed martial arts world in April, 2018 for his 'gentlemen's callout' of Felder while being interviewed by the American following his first-round knockout of Jim Miller.

ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY Kiwi Dan Hooker headlines UFC Auckland against Paul Felder on February 23.

Almost two years on, the two top-10 lightweight contenders will finally meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Auckland on February 23 - and Hooker (20-8) does not feel he's been shown the same level of respect.

The tension was palpable as he and Felder (17-4) stood nose-to-nose during heated staredown following a press conference in front of Spark Arena, with neither fighter willing to back down.

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"It is what it is. There's a lot on the line for both of us," Hooker told Stuff. "It is intense so you've just got to show it. I feel like some lines have been crossed so let's sort it out.

"Seeing him face to face, it's go-time, there's no mucking around. He wants to joke and throw things around, but I'm not a meme guy, I'm not a joker.

ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT UFC lightweight contenders Paul Felder and Dan Hooker face off outside Spark Arena in Auckland.

"Show me respect you get respect, show me disrespect I'll mirror the same thing back."

Hooker took exception to some of Felder's comments following the 'Hangman's' victory over Al Iaquinta at UFC 243 in October.

Those feelings escalated when the fight was announced last week as the duo went back and forth on social media, which Hooker felt Felder took to a personal level.

"When I called him out it was very respectful, it couldn't have been more respectful the way I approached him," he said. "After my last fight he starts making fun of me and things around me. Now the gentlemen's agreement is off the table, now it's 'I'm coming for you'.

"There's definitely a bit of bad blood."

While he respects Hooker's ability as a fighter, Felder said that any admiration he had for the Kiwi outside the octagon was now gone.

"After that face off, it's go-time. I'm heated right now, I'm ready to go," he told Stuff immediately after the staredown.

"Once we locked on and he got in my face you don't want to back down. Everybody's saying 'turn to the cameras' but neither one of us wants to be the first person to turn away. But that's who I want to show up."

Felder is ranked sixth in the division, one place higher than Hooker, with the winner almost guaranteed a place in the top five, while taking a major step towards a title shot.

Felder, who was only in the country for a couple of days, said their intense meeting has set the tone for the next 11 weeks until he returns to Auckland.

"Normally you don't get to face off with your opponent till Wednesday or Thursday of fight week when you do the media scrum. So having that early, it just brings more motivation to go into training camp now, go home, get focused and get this done."

Tickets for UFC Auckland go on sale on Friday, with more fights to be announced in the coming weeks.