UFC lightweight Renato Moicano, currently ranked No. 10 at 155 pounds, thinks veteran bruiser Dan Hooker is an “easy fight.”
“An easy ranked [opponent]? Dan Hooker,” Moicano told MMA Fighting. “He’s running too much. He’s run so many times. When Bobby Green beat Grant Dawson — which he wasn’t supposed to win anyway; not taking away his merits, it was pure luck — Dan Hooker went on Twitter, ‘You and I, Bobby Green. F*ck Moicano.’ He’s running, and he knows it.”
That assessment did not sit well with Hooker, who is hoping to secure a UFC 303 showdown opposite No. 6-ranked Beneil Dariush on June 29 in Las Vegas. If not, “The Hangman” would gladly shut down a “chinless scumbag” like Moicano.
“June on that card and if Beneil wants it, I would love to,” Hooker told The AllStar (transcribed by Farah Hannoun). “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.”
Dariush (22-6-1) has not competed since losing to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Austin.
“But obviously, Moicano is there, as well,” Hooker continued. “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. 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 [Turner], and eventually got the victory.”
Moicano (19-5-1) is the winner of three straight, including his second-round finish over Jalin Turner at UFC 300.
“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,” Hooker said. “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.”
Hooker (23-12) is also coming off a victory over Turner, having defeated “The Tarantula” at UFC 290 last July.
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