They say there isn’t anything more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose. If that’s true then Dan Hooker just became one of the most dangerous fighters on Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) roster.
Loser of two straight, Hooker says his overall mixed martial arts (MMA) record has taken quite a hit as of late after consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, the latter being a knockout loss at UFC 257 (recap here).
Since he feels he no longer has a nice record to protect, Hooker says it will allow him to open up a bit more inside the Octagon and take risks that other fighters wouldn’t, which means bad news for his future opponents.
“Now I got an ugly ass record as it is, It’s not like I got to protect the damn thing,” Hooker told Ariel Helwani. “It’s a powerful thing knowing you can pick yourself back up. That is what allows me to take risks other guys aren’t willing to take.”
It’s not like “The Hangman” has an atrocious overall record, going 20-10 in his pro career including racking up a 10-6 mark inside the Octagon with most of his losses coming at the hands of the cream of the crop.
Hooker recently returned home to New Zealand after a month-long stay on “Fight Island” in order to follow his home country’s strict COVID-19 protocols of isolation before being allowed to re-enter.
While Hooker will likely take some much-needed time to spend with his family after a lengthy hiatus, it will be a bit before he steps foot back inside the Octagon, presumably when the promotion heads back to “Fight Island.” When he does return, the 155-pound landscape will have changed a bit, but there will still be several worthy adversaries willing and ready to welcome him back.
Care to offer up a suggestion or three?