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“The Hangman” either wants to fight Charles Oliveira or Tony Ferguson next.
Only a few days after his war with Dustin Poirier at UFC Vegas 4, Dan Hooker is already playing matchmaker for his next opponent in the octagon.
Hooker lost a unanimous decision to Poirier in a fight that looks to be one of the frontrunners for 2020 “Fight of the Year.” The loss was Hooker’s first in four fights after picking up wins against Paul Felder, Al Iaquinta and James Vick.
The UFC’s lightweight division is currently flooded with top fighters and breakout contenders such as Charles Oliveira and Carlos Diego Ferreira. Hooker, who remained at number five at 155-pounds after his loss, discussed potential matchups at lightweight when talking to Submission Radio.
“They shuffled the rankings around a little bit. Felder dropped below Oliveira, and Dustin moved above Tony, so, it’s interesting times,” Hooker said. “So, obviously the two fights that make the most sense is Dustin verses Tony, and then me verses Oliveira. If Dustin wants to sit the rest of the year out and Tony wants to fight, well then I’m the next logical fight for Tony. So, I want to get back in there before the end of the year for sure.” (Transcription via MMA Mania)
The division’s current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is likely to fight interim champion Justin Gaethje later this year. Hooker feels Oliveira is avoiding him and Ferguson, looking for fights with Poirier and UFC superstar Conor McGregor instead. Sadly for Oliveira, it seems McGregor has no plans of returning to the Octagon soon.
“But then Oliveira, he’s getting carried away calling out Poirier and calling out Conor, and he’s beating around the bush, trying to say anyone except me or Tony,” Hooker continued. “He’s a funny guy. But yeah, I’ll have to wait and see, because obviously Tony makes way more sense for me. But if I have to go back and then solidify my place in the top five, I’m happy to do that. I just want to fight and I want to fight before the end of the year, and either of those two names make sense for me.”