Tag: Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker expects ‘Punishment’ for IV use claims against UFC rival Islam Makhachev

Dan HookerDan Hooker expects to be punished by the UFC after accusing Islam Makhachev of using an IV to aid in his UFC 284 recovery. Makhachev, the promotion’s reigning lightweight champion, earned a unanimous decision victory over 145-pound titleholder Alexander Volkanovski in a closely-contested superfight last month. While some fans believe ‘The Great’ did enough to […]

Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker expects to be punished by the UFC after accusing Islam Makhachev of using an IV to aid in his UFC 284 recovery.

Makhachev, the promotion’s reigning lightweight champion, earned a unanimous decision victory over 145-pound titleholder Alexander Volkanovski in a closely-contested superfight last month. While some fans believe ‘The Great’ did enough to leave Perth a double champion, the real controversy came after the fight when Volkanovski’s City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker accused Makhachev of hiring a nurse to administer an IV as part of his post-weigh in recovery.

Dan Hooker Doesn’t Care if the UFC Punishes Him

After making accusations on Twitter, Dan Hooker spoke with The AllStar’s John Hyon Ko to reiterate his suspicion. However, ‘The Hangman’ doesn’t anticipate the UFC or USADA taking any action against Makhachev. In fact, Hooker believes that he will likely be the recipient of punishment from the promotion for publicly accusing the lightweight champion of cheating.

“The UFC don’t care and USADA don’t care,” Hooker said. “Why do you think I’m the guy that come out and said something? I don’t care. You don’t think that I know there are gonna be consequences for what I said? You don’t think I’m gonna be punished for what I said? I just don’t care.

“Do I think that the UFC is gonna punish me in some way? Yeah, I’m sure they will. I’m sure they’ll give me tough matchups — whoop-dee-doo,” Hooker continued. “Ask the last 10 blokes I fought, they’re all tough matchups. Bring it on. You wanna give me tough matchups? Give me tough matchups… I’m not gonna blatantly see one of my teammates cheated out of a world title and not say anything.”

While IV usage is not expressly prohibited, the USADA rules stipulate that intravenous infusions and injections are prohibited both in-competition and out-of-competition if the volume of the substance exceeds 100 milliliters within a 12-hour period.

Islam Makhachev was quick to respond to Dan Hooker’s accusations on Twitter saying, “You must be held accountable for such accusations.”

Transcription courtesy of MMA News

Dan Hooker Claims He’s Had Increased USADA Visits Since Accusation Against Islam Makhachev

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker recently claimed that he’s been receiving increased visits from USADA since he accused Islam Makhachev of ‘cheating’ prior to his win over Alexander Volkanovski. While the UFC 284 pay-per-view in Perth, Aust…

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker recently claimed that he’s been receiving increased visits from USADA since he accused Islam Makhachev of ‘cheating’ prior to his win over Alexander Volkanovski. While the UFC 284 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, last month concluded with a headliner that was widely praised for its entertaining and enthralling nature, the discussion since…

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Claims He’s Had Increased USADA Visits Since Accusation Against Islam Makhachev at MMA News.

Michael Chandler Confident UFC Won’t Favor Hooker For McGregor’s Return Fight 

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler remains confident of being the promotion’s first choice when it comes to Conor McGregor’s comeback fight in 2025. Chandler was announced as the former two-division champion’s return opponent and opposition coach on The Ultimate Fighter toward the start of 2023. But while they completed the reality series, their matchup is […]

Continue Reading Michael Chandler Confident UFC Won’t Favor Hooker For McGregor’s Return Fight  at MMA News.

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler remains confident of being the promotion’s first choice when it comes to Conor McGregor’s comeback fight in 2025.

Chandler was announced as the former two-division champion’s return opponent and opposition coach on The Ultimate Fighter toward the start of 2023. But while they completed the reality series, their matchup is still yet to reach the cage.

And the chances of it doing so took a hit following the cancellation of their UFC 303 main event this past June and Chandler’s subsequent decision to accept a co-headline slot against Charles Oliveira at next month’s UFC 309 pay-per-view.

Despite that, both Dana White and “Iron” have suggested the McGregor clash remains on the table. And the former Bellator champion insist he remains first choice, even in spite of the Irishman naming Dan Hooker as his opponent instead.

During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler was asked for his reaction to McGregor’s latest remarks regarding his return to MMA competition in 2025.

The #6-ranked contender, who started his UFC journey with a victory over Hooker, dismissed McGregor’s comments while at BKFC Spain this past weekend as being serious.

And in any case, Chandler doesn’t foresee the promotion being on board with “The Hangman” welcoming the Dubliner back to action over him.

“Conor’s a very ‘flavor of the week’ kind of guy. He just had a conversation with Dan Hooker. Everybody knows Dan Hooker’s an awesome dude. You can sit there and have a beer with him, a Forged Irish Stout, in the middle of a squared ring and be like, ‘Hey, man. I like you, you like me, we can make some magic, let’s fight each other!’ I looked no further than that, honestly.

“I don’t think the UFC’s going to be very keen on McGregor vs. Hooker compared to McGregor vs. Chandler, since we need to make this fight happen,” Chandler continued. “I’m not really worried about it. It’s been up in the air for the better part of two years. So I’m not going to spend any time or energy or effort worrying about it.”

Before potentially putting his sights back on McGregor, Chandler will need to have his full energy on the opportunity to avenge the defeat he fell to in his sole UFC title fight to date back in 2022.

And should he accomplish that feat against Oliveira inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, perhaps a second shot at reaching the lightweight mountaintop will await him next year.

Continue Reading Michael Chandler Confident UFC Won’t Favor Hooker For McGregor’s Return Fight  at MMA News.

Dan Hooker Reacts To Conor McGregor Naming Him As UFC Return Opponent

Though Conor McGregor’s newest claims for his return matchup came out of the blue, Dan Hooker says he’s down for a fight. While in Spain for the latest BKFC event, Conor McGregor — the BKFC part-owner and former two-division UFC champion — revealed the latest update he has on his return to the Octagon. McGregor […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Reacts To Conor McGregor Naming Him As UFC Return Opponent at MMA News.

Though Conor McGregor’s newest claims for his return matchup came out of the blue, Dan Hooker says he’s down for a fight.

While in Spain for the latest BKFC event, Conor McGregor — the BKFC part-owner and former two-division UFC champion — revealed the latest update he has on his return to the Octagon. McGregor told Bloody Elbow that his plan is to return on February 1 in Saudi Arabia, with the opponent now being Dan Hooker, not Michael Chandler.

Hooker was also present in Spain as one of the cornermen for The Mac Life’s Oscar Willis in his first-round TKO of Ben Davis in a battle of MMA media members. McGregor and Hooker were seen having a conversation in the ring following the fight.

During an appearance on Submission Radio, Hooker was asked about the exchange and McGregor’s remarks that the two are going to fight next. The #5-ranked UFC lightweight claimed he’s in as long as the UFC gives the green light.

“We had a few words inside the ring,” Hooker said. “But, yeah, February 1 works for me. We’ll get that thing straight away.

“I’m on board, he’s on board. We just need to get the UFC on board and we’ll get this thing across the line.”

Dan Hooker Interested In Conor McGregor’s Plan For Fight In Saudi Arabia Next February

As far as their conversation in the middle of the ring, Hooker says the two had a casual talk and get along well.

“We’re kindred spirits, as you can see,” Hooker said. “We get along quite well. I think we’re both very similar. There’s a lot of similarities there.”

McGregor’s comeback was scheduled to take place at UFC 303 earlier this year before he withdrew due to a toe injury. He and Chandler had been slated to fight ever since the two were announced to be the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in 2023

Last month, it was announced that Chandler would instead face Charles Oliveira in a five-round rematch slated to co-headline UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “Iron” has been out of action since a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022.

UFC CEO Dana White had assured that a fight between McGregor and Chandler could still happen down the line.

McGregor has previously stated he wants to fight twice in 2025. The Irishman has two bouts remaining on his UFC deal, with some insiders attributing the delays of McGregor’s long-awaited return to the promotion wanting to prevent McGregor from hitting free agency.

The former 145- and 155-pound champion has not fought since his loss to Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Reacts To Conor McGregor Naming Him As UFC Return Opponent at MMA News.

‘If This Is True…’ – Fans React As Conor McGregor Names New Opponent, Date, Location For His UFC Comeback

Surprise, surprise, The King…is making claims of another new date and place for a comeback. But if it happens, is there a change in plans for his opponent? In an interview with Bloody Elbow while in Marbella for Saturday’s BKFC event, Conor McGregor claimed that his long-awaited, long-delayed return to the Octagon will now come […]

Continue Reading ‘If This Is True…’ – Fans React As Conor McGregor Names New Opponent, Date, Location For His UFC Comeback at MMA News.

Surprise, surprise, The King…is making claims of another new date and place for a comeback. But if it happens, is there a change in plans for his opponent?

In an interview with Bloody Elbow while in Marbella for Saturday’s BKFC event, Conor McGregor claimed that his long-awaited, long-delayed return to the Octagon will now come on February 1 when the UFC is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia for its second event in the country.

Though rumored, there is no confirmation that this event could serve as UFC 312 — just two weeks after the promotion holds UFC 311 in January as its first pay-per-view for 2025.

What’s noteworthy about McGregor’s remarks, however, is that the opponent for such a fight would now be Dan Hooker, apparently…

Michael Chandler had long been planned to be McGregor’s comeback opponent, stretching back to their time coaching season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. The two were scheduled to meet at UFC 303 earlier this year before McGregor withdrew.

Chandler has since been booked to face Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 on Nov. 16 — a rematch of their lightweight title fight from UFC 262 in 2021.

Conor McGregor Claims He Will Now Face Dan Hooker In Saudi Arabia

UFC CEO Dana White had assured that McGregor vs. Chandler was still on the table even with the latter taking the fight with Oliveira. If McGregor’s comments are true, this would be a 180 from those plans.

The Irishman has previously claimed he wants to fight twice in 2025, which would allow him to complete his UFC contract and enter free agency. He became part-owner of BKFC earlier this year.

McGregor has not fought since his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier in their July 2021 trilogy fight. Hooker, meanwhile, defeated Mateusz Gamrot in upset fashion at UFC 305 in August to return to the top five at 155 pounds.

Continue Reading ‘If This Is True…’ – Fans React As Conor McGregor Names New Opponent, Date, Location For His UFC Comeback at MMA News.

Dan Hooker Responds To Dustin Poirier’s 4-Man BMF Tournament Pitch

Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has committed to one final night in the cage before hanging up his gloves, and he’s got a unique idea in mind for his farewell. Poirier initially appeared set to call time on is career following a failed title bid opposite Islam Makhachev this past June. But while […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Responds To Dustin Poirier’s 4-Man BMF Tournament Pitch at MMA News.

Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has committed to one final night in the cage before hanging up his gloves, and he’s got a unique idea in mind for his farewell.

Poirier initially appeared set to call time on is career following a failed title bid opposite Islam Makhachev this past June. But while his immediate comments post-submission loss at UFC 302 leaned that way, he was quick to tease a return.

And in recent weeks, “The Diamond” has confirmed that he’s not yet done and has been in search of his final matchup — or potentially two, should his recent pitch come to fruition.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s MMA Today show with Din Thomas and Alan Jouban, Poirier suggested a four-man tournament comprised of three former opponents of his, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, and Dan Hooker.

The Grand Prix-style bracket would involve BMF stakes, with Hooker being the only one of the four yet to compete with the symbolic title on the line in the UFC.

“That excites me,” Poirier said. “Because that kind of stuff is for the dogs. That’s like old Pride days or Grand Prix. That’s a real ‘BMF.’ If you can fight a tournament in one night, multiple opponents, that’s the definition of ‘BMF.’

“That would be it,” Poirier continued. “If they put that together and it was a one-night tournament, that would be it (retirement).”

And “The Hangman,” for one, seems to be in…

Hooker Co-Signs Poirier’s BMF Tournament

Following Poirier’s remarks, which also got somewhat of a green light from UFC CEO Dana White following his latest post-Contender Series press conference, Hooker was quick to give his take on the idea.

Never one to shy away from the possibility of violence inside the Octagon, Hooker is unsurprisingly up for the same-night format.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Hooker wrote on X.

The New Zealander joined Poirier and Gaethje inside the lightweight top five following an upset decision win over the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot in Perth, Australia this past August.

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Responds To Dustin Poirier’s 4-Man BMF Tournament Pitch at MMA News.