Tag: Dan Hooker

‘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.

“I’m Not A Virgin Anymore” – Dan Hooker Reveals New Tattoo

No.11-ranked UFC lightweight Dan Hooker recently revealed a major body modification. ‘The Hangman’ was expected to next compete at next month’s UFC 285. There, he was slated to lock horns with the No.10-ranked Jalin Turner. Due to suf…

No.11-ranked UFC lightweight Dan Hooker recently revealed a major body modification. ‘The Hangman’ was expected to next compete at next month’s UFC 285. There, he was slated to lock horns with the No.10-ranked Jalin Turner. Due to suffering a broken hand, however, Hooker is out of the picture for the time being. With a lot…

Continue Reading “I’m Not A Virgin Anymore” – Dan Hooker Reveals New Tattoo at MMA News.

Dan Hooker inks first ever tattoo with massive back piece: ‘I’m not a virgin anymore’

Dan Hooker UFC TattooUFC lightweight striker, Dan Hooker has inked his first ever tattoo this week after hitting headlines over the course of this months post-UFC 284 – donning a sizeable back piece for his first time under the needle. Hooker, the current #11 ranked lightweight contender, earned his way back to the division’s top-15 rankings with an […]

Dan Hooker UFC Tattoo

UFC lightweight striker, Dan Hooker has inked his first ever tattoo this week after hitting headlines over the course of this months post-UFC 284 – donning a sizeable back piece for his first time under the needle.

Hooker, the current #11 ranked lightweight contender, earned his way back to the division’s top-15 rankings with an impressive finish of Claudio Puelles back in November at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden, with a third round body kick TKO.

The victory propelled the City Kickboxing mainstay back to the winner’s enclosure, following a string of losses consecutively against Arnold Allen – albeit at the featherweight limit, and a submission loss to current lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev.

Hitting the headlines in the immediate aftermath of UFC 284, Dan Hooker branded lightweight kingpin, Makhachev a “cheating dog” – accusing him of utilizing an intravenous drip in order to help with the rehydration process ahead of his title fight with featherweight champion and Hooker’s training partner, Alexander Volkanovski.

Slated himself to fight Jalin Turner at UFC 285 on March 4. next, Auckland striker, Dan Hooker was forced from the card earlier this month after suffering a fractured hand. Turner is slated to remain on the T-Mobile Arena card in two week’s time, however, drawing former two-division KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot on short-notice.

Dan Hooker inks his first ever tattoo

Posting pictures following his first ever tattoo session, Hooker, 33, showed off a new upper back tattoo piece, inked by an artist at Phresh Ink – claiming he is no longer a “virgin”. 

Over the course of his UFC tenure, Hooker has managed to chalk up victories over the likes of Ross Pearson, Jim Miller, Al Iaquinta, Paul Felder, Nasrat Haqparast, and former welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns to boot. 

Chael Sonnen Gives His Take On Dan Hooker’s Accusation Against Islam Makhachev

Former UFC star Chael Sonnen has given his take on the recent accusation leveled at Islam Makhachev by his fellow lightweight Dan Hooker. This past weekend, Makhachev added a first successful defense to his reign at 155 pounds by moving past a stiff ch…

Former UFC star Chael Sonnen has given his take on the recent accusation leveled at Islam Makhachev by his fellow lightweight Dan Hooker. This past weekend, Makhachev added a first successful defense to his reign at 155 pounds by moving past a stiff challenge from below. Despite what was widely expected to be an insurmountable…

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Gives His Take On Dan Hooker’s Accusation Against Islam Makhachev at MMA News.

Islam Makhachev demands Dan Hooker be held accountable for IV allegations

islam makhachevDan Hooker has recently gone on record accusing one of his former opponents, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, of cheating prior to his bout opposing Hooker’s teammate, Alexander Volkanovski, at UFC 284. Hooker made no excuse when he was submitted in the first round against Makhachev back in October of 2021, but he did make […]

islam makhachev

Dan Hooker has recently gone on record accusing one of his former opponents, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, of cheating prior to his bout opposing Hooker’s teammate, Alexander Volkanovski, at UFC 284.

Hooker made no excuse when he was submitted in the first round against Makhachev back in October of 2021, but he did make the following post after Volkanovski failed to become a two-division champion:

The champion responded to Hooker’s allegations earlier today with a tweet of his own, demanding Hooker be held accountable for such accusations:

Islam Makhachev‘s manager Ali Abdelaziz also responded, before deleting it.

Luckily for us, Ariel Helwani saved it before he had a chance to:

This has turned into quite a sticky situation; while Australia commissions allow the use of IV’s prior to a fight, USADA, whom works for the UFC, does strictly prohibit athletes from using them.

Islam Makhachev and his team have denied using an IV to begin with, though Abdelaziz’s tweet has drawn speculation amongst the MMA fanbase.

Had Makhachev used an IV following their weigh ins prior to UFC 284, it certainly could’ve aided him in a number of ways. One, it could aid him in cutting more weight than others not using an IV, and two, it could have helped him push through the fight without being finished.

Many fans and media had Makhachev beating Volkanovski three rounds to one going into the fifth, and Makhachev was noticably fatiguing at that point. Volkanovski dropped him in that fifth and final round, and rather than trying to get back to his feet, Makhachev accepted bottom position for the rest of the fight – the greatest grappler and wrestler in the sport right now, who’d never been on his back in the UFC until that point, accepted bottom position. That tells you how absolutely drained he was.

So, there’s certainly benefit to using IV’s pre-fight.

Let’s just hope for Makhachev’s sake he really didn’t and this truly is just an accusation.

Do you think Islam Makhachev used an IV before his fight at UFC 284?

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