Just days out from UFC 266, Dana White is not worried that the matchup between Dan Hooker and Nasrat Haqparast falls through.
LAS VEGAS – Just days out from UFC 266, [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] is not worried that the matchup between [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] and [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] falls through.
Both Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and Haqparast (13-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) have experienced issues obtaining their U.S. visas, and with Hooker’s situation finally sorted, Haqparast is yet to hear back.
But having dealt with numerous international fighters before, White is optimistic that Haqparast makes it to the fight.
“I don’t know yet, we’re working on it,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters in attendance at the UFC Apex following Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 40 event. “We should be able to get this done. I’m hoping we can. You guys have no idea how much sh*t we deal with with visas and all this kind of stuff. We got a really good team that saves our ass on a lot of shows, so we should be able to get this done. I’m confident we can.”
Just one day after Hooker got his U.S. visa approved, Haqparast took to Twitter to reach out to the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, urging them to expedite the approval process. On top of that, Haqparast has been dealing with the tragic loss of his mother but has every intention of making it to the fight.
UFC 266 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.
Joe Rogan won’t be in the commentary booth with Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik at UFC 266.
The UFC’s September schedule comes to a close this week with UFC 266 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.
Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.
“My situation pales in comparison to what Nasrat’s going through.”
Despite his own struggles to make it to fight week, [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] can’t complain after seeing what [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] has endured.
Haqparast’s mother recently died, but despite the tragic news, he has chosen to push through with his fight against Hooker on Saturday at UFC 266. Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC) only obtained his U.S. visa on Monday and is expected to arrive in Las Vegas on Thursday night, just hours before having to step on the scale for weigh-ins.
Hooker’s situation is far from ideal, but after seeing what Haqparast (13-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has gone through, withdrawing was not an option for Hooker.
“If I’m comparing my circumstances to Nasrat’s circumstances, you can’t even compare the two,” Hooker told Submission Radio. “My situation pales in comparison to what Nasrat’s going through. That’s something I’ve never experienced. My mother’s still happy and healthy, so that’s not a feeling that I can even pretend to experience. Like, what he’s going through to show up to this fight is a thousand times worse than anything I could possibly be going through.
“So, for me to then withdraw from the fight after he’s made this commitment to the fight, that would be terrible, and that really wouldn’t sit right with me if I couldn’t make the fight and yet he’s still making this sacrifice. Yeah, that’s why I just sent my condolences to him, and I still do, because he is the one pushing through all the tough stuff, he’s the one persevering in this fight. Comparing my situation is just silliness.”
[lawrence-related id=1059225]
However, the fight remains in jeopardy as Haqparast is also dealing with visa issues. A day after Hooker resolved his problem, Haqparast took to Twitter to seek help from the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, urging them to hurry up the process and approve his visa.
The lockdown in New Zealand has made it difficult for Hooker to train, but even though it’s been a tumultuous road to the fight, “The Hangman” has never expressed any concern over his preparation.
“It was never in doubt in the whole thing,” Hooker said. “At no time since I’ve had this fight has there been any doubt, like a shred of doubt on my end that I wasn’t gonna be prepared or I wasn’t gonna be ready.”
He continued “I feel prepared. That’s why I’m pursuing this fight so hard. Like, that’s why I’m fighting to get to this fight, is genuinely because I want to showcase the improvements I’ve made or showcase my ability. I feel like previously, or in the past, I would have done the exact same thing. I would have just gone out of my way, but it would have just been more like, I’ll fight anyone and go out of my way to just prove I’m a fighter. But I feel like the mentality shifted, and I’m going out of my way this time, purely because I feel like I’m the best, and I feel like I’m in a great place. So, I feel like I need to showcase that.
“I feel like I need to get out there and showcase this to the world. So, I feel mentally and physically in great shape and prepared. Like, these pandemic times have been difficult for the fighters down here in New Zealand and Australia, but you just gotta make it work. Sitting on your arse and complaining and b*tching and moaning about all of these restrictions will get you absolutely nowhere. You can’t go to a bank and pay your mortgage with complaints. It takes cold, hard cash. And the only way a fighter makes money is from getting out there and fighting. So, that’s what I’m doing.”
Dan Hooker has been cleared for travel to Las Vegas for UFC 266, but now his opponent Nasrat Haqparast is facing last-minute travel visa issues.
While one-half of an exciting preliminary bout received last-minute travel clearance, similar issues now haunt the other side of the contest just days ahead of UFC 266.
A lightweight bout between Nasrat Haqparast and Dan Hooker is currently scheduled to take place on the prelims of Saturday’s pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Recently, Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC) made a public plea via social media to the U.S. Embassy of New Zealand to expedite his travel visa in order to make it to Las Vegas in time for the bout against Haqparast (13-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC). On Monday, he was granted clearance, but now, his opponent is facing the same travel hurdles.
Late Monday evening, Haqparast took to Twitter to issue a public plea through a series of messages of his own, asking the U.S. Consulate of Frankfurt, Germany to approve his visa:
Dear @usconsfrankfurt this is my last chance to make my fight on Saturday #UFC266 happen. I’m waiting for my Visa approval and I kindly ask to pick up my passport and visa. I understand that due to COVID 19 it’s difficult for the visa process right now but this is my last chance.
Dear @usconsfrankfurt this is my last chance to make my fight on Saturday #UFC266 happen. I’m waiting for my Visa approval and I kindly ask to pick up my passport and visa. I understand that due to COVID 19 it’s difficult for the visa process right now but this is my last chance.
I only needed a new P1 visa because I came back to Germany and left Los Angeles – last Thursday for the funeral of my mother. The @ufc gave everything for expedited visa process.
I tried to call and email a couple times. I’m ready to fly out on last notice and cut weight on Thursday evening , weigh in Friday and fight Saturday. I just need my Visa approved and passport back please..@RichardGrenell @usconsfrankfurt @AliAbdelaziz00
I only needed a new P1 visa because I came back to Germany and left Los Angeles – last Thursday for the funeral of my mother. The @ufc gave everything for expedited visa process.
Germany is not currently on a COVID-19 lockdown, which was one of the issues that Hooker had to face in New Zealand. However, there are limited visa appointments and increased wait times for work visas, like the P1 visa that Haqparast needs for clearance.
Haqparast has gone through tough personal issues leading up to this fight, including the loss of his mother. Despite grieving his family’s loss, he decided to keep the fight on and compete against Hooker. In an attempt to juggle both by traveling back home for his mother’s funeral, visa issues may prevent the fight from taking place at UFC 266 just days before he is scheduled to compete.
Check out the first episode of UFC 266 ‘Embedded’ as the fighters being their fight week in Las Vegas.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 266, which also means the fight week video series “Embedded” is back to document the fighters behind the scenes.
UFC 266 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
The main event features a featherweight title bout between “The Ultimate Fighter 29” coaches as champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] will look to defend his title against challenger [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag].
The co-main event is a title fight that will see the dominant flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] attempt to defend her title for the sixth time against the surging [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag].
The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters as they being their fight week. Here is the description from YouTube:
Flyweight champions Valentina Shevchenko and Brandon Moreno train together at the UFC PI. Champ Alexander Volkanovski returns to Las Vegas. Lauren Murphy spends her day off helping with construction at her gym. Brian Ortega does a SoCal workout outdoors.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 266 event in Las Vegas.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 266 event in Las Vegas.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 266 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 266 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.
It appears Dan Hooker will make it to UFC 266 after all.
It appears [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] will make it to UFC 266 after all.
After struggling to obtain a visa appointment in his home country of New Zealand, Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC) called for help on Twitter by messaging the U.S. Embassy’s Kevin Covert, the Chargé d’affaires a.i. who is responsible for diplomatic business.
His request was answered and after a meeting at the embassy Monday (Sunday in the U.S.), Hooker delivered the good news that he obtained his visa.
Hooker meets Nasrat Haqparast (13-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) on Saturday, but won’t be flying to the States until Thursday. Hooker previously explained that the only current flights from New Zealand to the U.S. are Sundays and Thursday. Because his visa was approved too late for the Sunday flight, he will fly Thursday (Wednesday U.S. time) and make it to the U.S. Thursday night – just in time for the weigh-ins Friday morning and the fight Saturday.
Time is running out for Dan Hooker to have his visa approved for U.S. travel so he can fight at UFC 266.
UFC lightweight [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] appears to be running out of time and out of options to keep his upcoming bout together.
Currently booked to fight against Nasrat Haqparast (13-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at UFC 266, Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC) might not be able to compete due to visa issues. Due to New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown, it’s uncertain if he’ll receive clearance for travel in time to make it to Las Vegas for the Sept. 25 event.
On Thursday, Hooker made a public plea on Twitter in a pair of messages to the U.S. Embassy’s Kevin Covert, the Chargé d’affaires a.i., who is responsible for diplomatic business:
The embassy has my passport and all the completed documentation, all I need is it to be processed and returned.
@USAmbNZ Hi Kevin, apologies for messaging on here but it’s a last resort. My visa is with the US embassy here in NZ as I fight next week in Las Vegas on #UFC266 Update today is it won’t be approved until next week due to lock down which will cancel my fight. Please help.
The embassy has my passport and all the completed documentation, all I need is it to be processed and returned.
This is an absolute last resort.
According to the New Zealand government website, Auckland is currently at COVID-19 “Alert Level 4,” which means the virus is likely not contained and there are widespread outbreaks. Residents must stay at home in their bubble, gatherings in public facilities aren’t allowed, and no travel is allowed except for necessities, among other restrictions. After a review on Sept. 13, the government decided to remain on lockdown through Sept. 21.
If Hooker is unable to obtain his visa prior to this date, his fight against Haqparast would be canceled due to his inability to travel to the U.S. in time.
It is unlikely a public message on Twitter will result in a change to the government’s process, but that hasn’t stopped MMA fans who want to see one of the most exciting fighters in the division from sending their own messages to Covert on the social media platform.
[lawrence-related id=643138]
Hooker is hoping to make it to Las Vegas in time to compete and snap his two-fight losing skid. Prior to his recent pair of losses to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, Hooker won seven of his previous eight fights. These included impressive first-round finishes of James Vick, Gilbert Burns, and Jim Miller.
Robbie Lawler reflects on his loss to Nick Diaz in 2004 and previews the anticipated rematch at UFC 266 on Sept. 25.
[autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] is preparing for a better version of [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] than anyone has ever seen at UFC 266.
Lawler (28-15 MMA, 13-9 UFC), a former UFC welterweight champion, is tasked with the assignment of welcoming Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) back to the octagon from a nearly seven-year hiatus when they meet in a featured welterweight bout on the Sept. 25 pay-per-view card from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Prelims air on ESPNNews and stream on ESPN+.
The contest also doubles as an anticipated rematch. Lawler suffered a second-round knockout loss to Diaz at UFC 47 in April 2004 in what was his first career stoppage due to strikes. The chance to run it back excites Lawler, he said, but it’s not something he was seeking out. He’s by no means stewing over the outcome from 17 years ago, and he said he doesn’t take anything positive or negative away from that experience.
“Getting a fight, getting a win vs. him it doesn’t really matter what happened in the past – 17 years later it’s almost like it never happened,” Lawler told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Obviously we’re very young at that time. He took the fight to me, hit me with some good shots and it wasn’t my night. I’ve grown a whole bunch. He’s developed his skills. It’s a different fight. Same guy, just a little different.”
There is plenty of historical subtext to Lawler vs. Diaz 2. It’s the longest gap between a first and second fight between athletes in UFC history, and it will also mark just the second time the company has put on a five-round fight that’s neither a title nor a main event.
Lawler said didn’t hesitate to accept a five-round bout. And despite having nine fights scheduled for 25 minutes during his UFC career, he doesn’t think it gives him much of an advantage, either.
Diaz is famously known for his durability and cardio, and Lawler doesn’t anticipate much change, even without having stepped in the octagon since January 2015. Diaz has experienced some troubling moments outside the octagon during his layoff, but all signs to him being in excellent condition ahead of UFC 266.
Lawler said he doesn’t foresee a dramatic drop-off in Diaz’s skills after the time off, and in fact, thinks it’ll be an upgrade from what he’s displayed in the past.
“I think he’s been training this whole time,” Lawler said. “He’s a guy that likes to dabble, help his brother out. He obviously has jiu-jitsu and a good jiu-jitsu game as well as boxing. I think he’s going to come in shape and bring his tools and try to beat my ass. … I think he’s going to be in shape, ready to go 25 minutes. That’s his makeup. He comes to fight. He likes to push pace. He can go 25.”
[lawrence-related id=699944,674687]
Although much of the spotlight will rightfully revolve around Diaz’s comeback going into UFC 266, it’s an equally or arguably even more important bout for Lawler’s career. The 39-year-old has lost his past four fights – albeit against top-tier competition in Neil Magny, Colby Covington, Ben Askren, and Rafael dos Anjos – and has just one win dating back to July 2016.
“Ruthless” hasn’t competed since August 2020, and said at this point in his life he’s only eager to fight if it gets his juices flowing. The rematch with Diaz is one that ticked all the boxes for Lawler, and he has the utmost motivation to get back in the win column in a marquee bout.
“I think it’s going to be an exciting fight,” Lawler said. “Nick always comes to fight, he looks to get in your face. He’s a really good counter-puncher. He’s in shape. He can do it all, too. Good ground game, good stand-up. He comes to fight and he’s in shape. So I need to go out there and make sure I’m crisp and sharp and getting in there and getting my blows in.”
Aspiring title contender Omar Morales eager to fight on same event at which the UFC featherweight belt will be disputed
[autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] will be close proximity to UFC gold next month.
The rising UFC featherweight has been booked to fight Jonathan Pearce on Sept. 25 at UFC 266 in Las Vegas, a pay-per-view event headlined by Alexander Volkanovski’s second title defense of his UFC 145-pound title against Brian Ortega.
It’s no secret Venezuela’s Morales (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wants to get his hands on the belt in the future and he finds it good to be on the same card on which the belt of his division will be disputed.
“Of course I love that because I’m living part of that,” Morales told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’m seeing those fighters, seeing where I want to be, seeing the type of fighters I want to fight.
“For me, it’s a great experience because I start studying them and seeing how they carry themselves. And once you experience all that in all levels of the UFC, seeing them in fight week and in the octagon, it takes away some anxiety and you’re just left with the desire of wanting to be there.”
[lawrence-related id=597650,660179]
Morales began his UFC career at 155 pounds, notching dominant wins over Dong Hyun Ma and Gabriel Benitez. He then moved down to featherweight in late 2020, but was unsuccessful, suffering his first professional defeat to Giga Chikadze in a unanimous decision.
Since then, the 35-year-old bounced back with a win over Shane Young back in March. Despite the success, Morales thinks he hasn’t been able to fully show his potential, but he’s confident that will change at UFC 266.
“Since I joined the UFC, I felt really good in my debut against Dong Hyun Ma and since then I wasn’t able to feel my normal explosiveness,” Morales said. “But I figured out what was happening to me and I’ve taken care of all those issues, and for this fight I’m going to come out explosive like you’ve seen me in my previous fights.
“It’s something that I don’t talk about, but it was health issues that I didn’t know were affecting me. But right now, I’m healthy and I feel good. Now I just have to work to keep going up the rankings, and of course a title in the future or a rematch that doesn’t let me sleep.”
“
