Midnight Mania! Hooker Makes 146 In Test Cut

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

After an 8-4 run dating back to July 2017, Dan Hooker is heading back to Featherweight.

Following a disappointing result vs. Islam Makhachev a few weeks back at UFC 267, Hooker hinted that a return to Featherweight may be in his future. Now, he’s already taken the next step, successfully making a test cut to 146 lbs. and posting the clip online.

“45 look alive,” Hooker wrote.

Credit to Hooker, he managed to make weight with underwear on, and he doesn’t look unreasonably sapped in the short clip above — he can stand on his own, which is always a good sign! If he is indeed going to commit to a Featherweight return, it’s good that he seems to be going about it smartly.

At the same time, there’s a reason “The Hangman” moved up to Lightweight in the first place. The man is 6’ tall, and he generally performed much better at 155 lbs. He went just 3-3 at Featherweight, failing to secure any real momentum or particularly important victories. Meanwhile, Hooker won seven of eight to start his Lightweight career, taking out names like Gilbert Burns and Paul Felder.

Still, if Hooker has a new system that allows him to make weight without suffering any major drawbacks, perhaps second time is the charm.

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