Tag: Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker vs. Mateusz Gamrot in the works for UFC 305 in Perth

Dan Hooker will get a big fight at UFC 305.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] will get a big fight at UFC 305.

Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) draws top lightweight contender [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) on the Aug. 17 card at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the verbal agreements to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. News of the matchup first emerged when Hooker posted it about it on his personal Instagram story (h/t @realkevink).

Hooker will get his wish of fighting alongside his City Kickboxing teammates Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France. “The Hangman” is coming off back-to-back wins – a TKO of Claudio Puelles, followed by a war with Jalin Turner at UFC 290.

Gamrot has won three straight, most recently a unanimous decision over former champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299 in March. The American Top Team fighter has won seven of his past eight.

With the addition, the UFC 305 lineup includes:

  • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya – for middleweight title
  • Steve Erceg vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
  • Justin Tafa vs. Valter Walker
  • Josh Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
  • Tereza Bleda vs. Casey O’Neill
  • Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker
  • Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
  • Jesus Aguilar vs. Stewart Nicoll

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.

Bobby Green offers to fight Dan Hooker at UFC 305 after he fights Paddy Pimblett at UFC 304

Bobby Green is ready to double book himself if the UFC is willing to do it.

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] is ready to double book himself.

Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC) is scheduled to face [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) July 27 at UFC 304 (ESPN+ pay-per-view) from Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

After fighting Pimblett, Green wants a quick turnaround for Aug. 17 at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, where he’ll already be to corner a teammate. With lightweight [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) looking for a fight, Green offered to be his dance partner.

“My plans are to fight Paddy and if I can, if the UFC let me, I want to fight in Perth, too,” Green said on his Instagram story (h/t UFC on TNT Sports). “You pick the person. I hear Dan Hooker is looking for a fight. I’ll fight Dan. I don’t care. All I need is you to do me this favor.

“Work on them taxes because I’m not trying to give up 90K in f*cking taxes to Australia. But, if my plans go right, fight Paddy in (Manchester), and I already got to go for my boy Alex Reyes’ fight, so I’m already going to be out there. I might as well fight, too. So if y’all can make that happen, UFC, let’s make it happen.”

Green has won three of his past four, most recently battering veteran Jim Miller at UFC 300 in April.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Beneil Dariush responds to Dan Hooker’s callout for UFC 305 in Australia

Dan Hooker got a response to his UFC 305 callout from Beneil Dariush. Here’s what he said.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] issued a callout to [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag], and he didn’t get a yes, but he also didn’t get a no.

Last week, Hooker threw out several names he’d like to fight for UFC 305, which marks the return of the promotion to Hooker’s part of the world. The event is scheduled to take place on Aug 18 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Hooker, who’s a New Zealand native, mentioned Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) in the list of names he’d like to fight.

“Any human God made UFC 305,” wrote Hooker on X. “Dariosh/moycano/fiviev/spamshot. I don’t give a f*ck.”

Dariush responded to the callout, not fully committing to the idea but not closing the door on it either.

“Maybe,” Dariush told Helen Yee. “I have a lot going on, a lot on my plate right now, but if I can get it all figured out, maybe. I feel bad. This guy has been calling me out for so long, and normally, I just say yes to people, but he’s the one guy that I can never seem to get on the right schedule with.

“So maybe. Maybe we end up doing it in Australia. I love Australia except for the fact that they tax me like no other, so maybe not. Maybe we’ll do it in Vegas, or somewhere we don’t get taxed. We’ll figure it out. … I think it’s 20% or something stupid like that, and I’m trying to keep my money. I don’t know about Dan.

“… I prefer not to do it in Australia just because of that, but at the same time, I do love Australia, so I wouldn’t hate it. It wouldn’t be the end of the world. I would love to go there, fight, and then spend an extra week for vacation.”

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‘Why not?’: Benoit Saint Denis welcomes Dan Hooker next, calls Arman Tsarukyan dream fight at lightweight

Benoit Saint Denis is game to fight anyone – preferably the highest-ranked lightweight possible.

[autotag]Benoit Saint Denis[/autotag] is game to fight anyone – preferably the highest-ranked lightweight available.

Saint Denis (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) got a taste of the upper echelon of the division when he was matched up with current title challenger Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 in March, but was knocked out in Round 2. Saint Denis was battling a staph infection which he said heavily impacted his performance.

The rising French star is now looking ahead. [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) told The MMA Hour in April that the UFC offered him Saint Denis September in Paris, and Saint Denis is open to that fight.

“Yeah, why not? Dan Hooker is a tough fighter. He’s a good fighter. I’m looking to fight anybody in the top 15,” Saint Denis told MMA Junkie. “I would like to face somebody with the best number possible next to his name. So if it’s Dan Hooker, it’s Dan Hooker. I would love it. Yeah, maybe No. 7, maybe No. 6, maybe No. 5.

“It was an exciting fight with Dustin, didn’t go my way. I made way too many mistakes against a world-class opponent, but now I need to bounce back and I want to show that I’m here for a reason, and I’m looking to the future with enthusiasm. I cannot wait to have the name of my next opponent. If it’s in Paris, it would be great. So yeah, let’s go.”

Saint Denis’ next taste of competition comes in the form of a grappling match against Marc Diakiese in the ADXC 4 headliner May 18 in Paris. The original opponent discussed was [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], who Saint Denis believes didn’t grapple him due to likely being the backup for Islam Makhachev’s title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.

However, Saint Denis hopes he gets the chance to fight Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) someday.

“I would love to face Arman Tsarukyan,” Saint Denis said. “It will be a great fight. Obviously he’s No. 1 contender, but Makhachev is not the most active champion. I don’t know if he’ll still be champion, but if he’s still champion, I think he will take some time off.

“A lot of stuff can happen in this division. Let’s see what happens, but of course, the guys that can put me as up as possible is what I would love. I think a fight against Arman Tsarukyan would be perfect, but I’m not the matchmaker of the UFC.”

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Dan Hooker claps back at Renato Moicano: ‘You’re the easiest money I’ve ever seen in my life, you chinless scumbag’

Dan Hooker had some choice words in response to Renato Moicano.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] is willing to fight [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] after his recent comments.

Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC), who’s eyeing a return in June, wants Beneil Dariush next – especially after hearing Dariush reciprocate interest. But if Dariush isn’t ready by June, Hooker would be glad to face Moicano (19-5-1 MMA, 11-5 UFC), who took issue with him and Israel Adesanya picking Turner to win in a recent episode of his “Show Me the Money” podcast.

“June on that card and if Beneil wants it, I would love to,” Hooker told The AllStar. “I would love to take that fight June, July for International Fight Week. I will punch Beneil Dariush’s head clean off his shoulders, there’s no doubt about it. That would obviously be my top pick, but he’s just been very quiet about shooting a shot.

“I’m not sure if that’s a date that he’s willing to commit to. … But obviously, Moicano is there, as well. If Beneil doesn’t want it, Moicano calling me ‘easy money,’ brother, you’re the easiest money I’ve ever seen in my life, you chinless scumbag. I’ll come for him in a heartbeat.”

After being dropped in Round 1, Moicano rallied to finish Jalin Turner by Round 2 TKO at UFC 300. Hooker isn’t sure if Moicano would be ready for a quick turnaround in June.

“I saw him get hurt at the start of the fight,” Hooker said. “I don’t think he’ll be good to go by June. I think you might have to wake him up. I just don’t think he’ll be good to go. Even though he outgrappled him, and eventually got the victory. There’s been some insults shared on his behalf saying I can’t grapple, I can’t do this, and I can’t do that.

“Mate, I’m not Drew Dober, and I’m not Jalin Turner. You need to relax calling me easy money. That’s absolutely laughable, my friend. For that insult alone, you cannot turn down a June date. For that insult alone, I’ll also punch his head clean off his shoulders.”

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UFC’s Dan Hooker: If Beneil Dariush ‘wants to see if he’s still got it, well, I can check’

If Beneil Dariush wants to know where he stands in the UFC lightweight division, Dan Hooker is happy to help him find out.

If [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] wants to know if he’s still got it, [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] is happy to help him find out.

Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) contemplated his fighting future after suffering his second consecutive first-round knockout to Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC on ESPN 52 headliner. Prior to that, Dariush was stopped by former champion Charles Oliveira, who snapped his eight-fight winning streak.

Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC), who’s riding some momentum after back-to-back wins over Claudio Puelles and Jalin Turner, is down to scrap with Dariush this summer.

“I’ll fight Beneil in June,” Hooker said in an interview on ENGAGE’s YouTube channel. “Whether that be (Conor) McGregor’s card International Fight Week, if he’s just pulling everyone’s chain as he usually does. I hear (the UFC is) coming back mid-year sometime in Australia. That as well, it would be cool to fight close to home.

So, Benny is ranked above me coming off a couple of losses, but let’s go, baby. He’s come out and said, yeah, he wants to see if he still got it. Well, I can check, brother. I’ll check for you.”

Hooker appears to be back in training after breaking his arm just 11 days ahead of his Dec. 2 UFC on ESPN 52 matchup vs. Bobby Green, which required surgery.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2dU6NnSOd3/

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Dan Hooker would love to be backup fighter for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler

Dan Hooker would love a first-time fight with Conor McGregor or a rematch with Michael Chandler.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] is campaigning to be the reserve for [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag].

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to face Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) on June 29 to cap off International Fight Week. Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) welcomed Chandler to the octagon in January 2020 but was stopped by first-round TKO at UFC 257. “The Hangman” has never been one to pick opponents but would love it if he could compete on the same card as McGregor vs. Chandler so he could serve as the backup.

“You obviously get to play the roulette,” Hooker told The Mac Life. “You get to take the gamble, the exact gamble I would like to take, which is be the backup for that fight. Obviously fighting, couldn’t care who, top to bottom.

“Whoever’s free, but yeah, on that card and whoever gets injured, that’s like my perfect fight. Either a rematch with Chandler, which is obviously a fight I’d die for, or the McGregor fight. Everyone knows why you want to have that fight.”

In his most recent outing, Hooker outlasted Jalin Turner in a Fight of the Night war at UFC 290 in July. He broke his arm in training just 11 days ahead of his UFC on ESPN 52 matchup vs. Bobby Green, which required surgery.

Hooker said he could fight as early as May but prefers waiting until June 29.

“I would be ready to go probably May or early June,” Hooker continued. “But I would be willing to wait to late June because you’re playing that game where you can step in. I don’t mind either of the blokes. I got no personal vendetta against Chandler, that is what it is. He beat me fair and square. I got no qualms about that, that’s just the sport. Conor, that’s a cool fight card to be a part of. I’ve been a part of a McGregor card before.”

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24 fights on our 2024 MMA wish list: Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones (still), Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3, more

Here’s MMA Junkie’s 24-fight wishlist for the new year.

2023 didn’t disappoint in terms of great MMA action, and 2024 looks just as promising, if not more.

With 2024 underway, there’s a new year of fresh possibilities for dream matchups across the MMA landscape, from the UFC to Bellator, PFL, RIZIN FF, ONE Championship and more.

For 2023, unfortunately, only four of the 23 dream fights MMA Junkie wished for came to fruition. We’re not deterred, however, and are back with another slate of 24 matchups we aspire to see in 2024.

Below, we present MMA Junkie’s wish list of 24 fights we’d like to see in 2024.

Bobby Green disappointed it’s not Dan Hooker, but hopes Jalin Turner will help turn in a classic at UFC Austin

Bobby Green sees Jalin Turner as just as exciting of a matchup as his original at UFC Austin: Dan Hooker.

AUSTIN, Texas – [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] sees [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] as just of an exciting matchup as [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag].

Green (31-14-1 MMA, 12-9-1 UFC) was slated to face Hooker in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event, but Hooker was forced out due to a broken arm. Turner will step in on short notice to face Green at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

Turner (13-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is coming off a thrilling decision loss to Hooker at UFC 290. Green was looking forward to throwing down with Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC), but sees his matchup with Turner delivering similar fireworks.

“It really sucks because that had Fight of the Night on it,” Green told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “But I think me and Jalin are going to do our thing, too. My most important thing is just setting out classics, stuff that can be watched, something that’s timeless, and keep getting those Fight of the Night awards. That’s where I was really at with it, but I think Jalin is going to do the same thing.”

Turner got off to a good start against Hooker, but “The Hangman” rallied to beat him on two of the three judges’ scorecards. Green is aware of Turner’s strong starts and aims to score his third-straight finish against “The Tarantula.”

“Especially in that first round or two, he comes really hard,” Green said. “I’m expecting that from him. Be careful, make sure I don’t make any mistakes, and I’m going to go in there and try and take his head off.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

Dan Hooker undergoes surgery for broken arm: ‘Just a scratch baby, can’t wait to scrap again’

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is already looking forward to his return to action following surgery on his arm.

UFC lightweight [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] has completed surgery and is already eying his return to action.

Hooker, who was scheduled to compete at UFC on ESPN 52 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, against Bobby Green, was forced out due to injury. “Hangman” broke his arm in training just 11 days ahead of the event.

Monday, Hooker went under the knife to repair his injury, and appears to be in good spirits.

“Surgery done and dusted this morning,” Hooker wrote on Instagram in a post with a photo of himself in hospital scrubs and his arm in a sling. “Not my first and definitely won’t be my last time under the knife haha. Can see how this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I’m built for this game. Just a scratch baby, can’t wait to scrap again.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Kw5bcSJ0Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The injury was to the same arm that Hooker previously broke in an intense fight against Jalin Turner at UFC 290 in July. Coincidentally, Turner is the one who stepped up to face Green on short notice in Austin.

According to Hooker, his doctor told him the arm never fused properly, which led to the re-injury. The procedure on Monday included injecting bone marrow into the bone to ensure it heals properly this time. There is currently no timetable for Hooker’s return to action.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.