Longtime UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker got dragged into a social media spat with fellow 155-pound title hopeful Arman Tsarukyan because “The Hangman” believed the up-and-coming “Ahalkalakets” was ready, willing, and able to compete.
Nope.
Turns out the Russian bruiser was already paired off against Christos Giagos, a lightweight showdown recently made official for the UFC Vegas 37 event on Sept. 18 in Las Vegas. So then why did Tsarukyan accuse Hooker of ducking him?
“Because he’s a dumbass,” Hooker told Submission Radio. “I argue exclusively for a physical confrontation. If you ever see me standing across from someone arguing with them, it’s for one reason and one reason only, for physical confrontation. This dumbass picks an argument with me. We got all the way to the end of the argument, and then I find out a week later that he’s already got a fight. If you’re already booked, why argue? Why try to challenge me when I’m looking for a fight and you have a fight?”
Hooker revealed that his next fight would come against fellow lightweight bruiser Nasrat Haqparast as part of the UFC 266 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sept. 25 in Las Vegas, first reported by Cole Shelton, which may or may not silence Tsarukyan.
“The kid’s got shit for brains,” Hooker continued. “That’s all I have to say about that. Can anyone can put a hand on their heart and tell me that I’m scared of Arman whatever his name is? I’ve never even seen the kid fight before. I would walk right through him. You’re kidding yourself; you’re kidding yourself. If he truly believes that, he’s a living in a delusion.”
Hooker (20-10) has not competed since his technical knockout loss to Michael Chandler in Abu Dhabi.