Dan Hooker wants his first crack at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight gold.
Anything is possible in mixed martial arts (MMA) no matter the ups and downs a fighter may face. The latest shining example of that is New Zealand’s Hooker, who now finds himself ranked at No. 5 in the rankings after a third consecutive win. Hooker earned a split decision nod over former KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot, at UFC 305 last month (Aug. 17, 2024) and now plans to fight once more at most before he challenges for the title.
Next up, Hooker has made it clear that he wants the former champion, Charles Oliveira. At this point in his 36-fight career (24-12), the 34-year-old will stick with that plan.
“I kind of have learned that from my first rodeo to just kind of not do anything dumb this time around,” Hooker said on The Megan Anderson Show. “I mean, the last time I was No. 5, I agreed to fight Michael Chandler. Gave Michael Chandler a shot, it was his first fight in the UFC. I flew to Abu Dhabi, so other side of the world with absolutely no coaches, and went and fought him with a guy I’d been training for six months in my corner. It was not the smartest of decisions, so I guess this time around, I’m just not going to do anything dumb or sell my title shot again.”
Hooker’s last three-fight stretch of success culminated with a Fight of the Year contender opposite Dustin Poirier in June 2020. Unfortunately for “The Hangman,” his streak ended via a unanimous decision but the fight was the unforgettable instant classic the world expected it to be.
Before Hooker can challenge the current champion, Islam Makhachev, in a rematch, Makhachev is expected to have to defend in another rematch against the No. 1-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan. Makhachev submitted Hooker via a first round kimura at UFC 267 in October 2021.