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Israel Adesanya’s head coach used ‘legit knives’ to battle complacency in the gym; ‘He even brought a machete’

Eugene Bareman, the coach of many top MMA stars including Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker reportedly brought knives and machetes to the gym in order to combat complacency. Adesanya is just hours away from one of the highest-profile fights of his UFC career. The middleweight champion will defend his title against a familiar foe in […]

Eugene Bareman, the coach of many top MMA stars including Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker reportedly brought knives and machetes to the gym in order to combat complacency.

Adesanya is just hours away from one of the highest-profile fights of his UFC career. The middleweight champion will defend his title against a familiar foe in Alex Pereira, a rival that famously knocked out ‘The Last Stylebener’ in one of their two meetings under the GLORY Kickboxing banner.

At City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand, Bareman works as Adesanya’s head coach. He is the man tasked with preparing ‘Stylebender’ for his UFC 281 main event on Saturday night. Citing issues of complacency amongst some of the gym’s top fighters, Bareman, and other coaches decided to address the issue head-on.

“There’s a reason and we as a group of coaches felt that there was like a little bit of complacency amongst some of the senior guys,” Bareman told Combat TV. “They were a little bit too comfortable and we decided as a group of coaches to address that.”

Forget MMA, you’d be very hard-pressed to find a head coach in ANY SPORT who will speak this openly and honestly about his stars and without fear of any backlash.

Could have spoken to Coach Eugene Bareman all day. Was an honor to have him in studio to pick his brain for a bit. pic.twitter.com/Sbyxl6yYE8

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 8, 2022

Dan Hooker and Israel Adesanya Say Bareman Brought Knives to the Gym and Treated Them Like Toys

Following up on the comments from Bareman during his appearance on ‘The MMA Hour‘ with Ariel Helwani, Dan Hooker revealed that “legit” knives were pulled.

“Knives were pulled, legit knives. He would have had them on this chair, there were a number of moments. He’s always packing. We got a few big telling offs, he kicked the hornets nest a few times. It had to happen to wake everyone up, maybe we were being complacent. After that, we definitely reached a new level. He demanded more out of us.“

Appearing in the same episode, Israel Adesanya confirmed Dan Hooker’s comments, even detailing times when Bareman would bring a machete to the gym and show it off like a child with an expensive new toy.

“There was a period of two to three weeks, it’s like show and tell. He’d bring a new knife to the gym, not to intimidate, he’s just a f*cking weirdo. He’s one of those guys that goes to the bushes, hunting deer. He even brought a machete to the gym one day, a cool machete. It’s like a kid with a new toy, he makes jokes about it.”

Michael Chandler Explains Why He Didn’t Want To Fight Dan Hooker

One-time UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has explained why Dan Hooker would’ve never been the preference for his debut fight in the promotion. In 2020, Chandler joined the MMA leader and departed Bellator, where he’d held the 155-pound gold in three separate reigns. After serving as backup in Abu Dhabi for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s title…

Continue Reading Michael Chandler Explains Why He Didn’t Want To Fight Dan Hooker at MMA News.

Dan Hooker still planning UFC title reign despite recent skid: ‘I’m not interested in anything else’

Despite a recent losing streak ahead of his incoming UFC return next weekend in Madison Square Garden, Auckland striker, Dan Hooker admits he’s still hopeful of landing Octagon spoils. And if he ever feels like that goal is unattainable, he will likely leave the promotion. Set to return at UFC 281 later this month in […]

Set to return at UFC 281 later this month in a lightweight division return, Hooker will draw Peruvian grappling prospect, Claudio Puelles beneath a middleweight title fight between challenger, Alex Pereira, and teammate, champion Israel Adesanya.

Retaining the #12 rank in the official lightweight rankings, New Zealand native, Hooker has been sidelined since March of this year, suffering a first round knockout loss against Ipswitch native, Arnold Allen at UFC London.

The defeat followed a short-notice submission loss to recently minted undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makahchev last year in October on ‘Fight Island’.

Dan Hooker admits he suffered an “ego death” amid his losing streak

1-4 in his last five Octagon appearances, City Kickboxing striker, Hooker admits he still has plans to clinch a UFC championship in the future – and hopes to kickstart that run with a win over Puelles in the ‘Big Apple’.

“You will not see me compete in the UFC if the objective is not a world title,” Dan Hooker told Submission Radio during a recent interview. “I’m not interested in anything else. I’m not interested in the money. I’m not interested.”

“Nothing else interests me except having the belt,” Dan Hooker continued. “Because the belt means you’re the best fighter in the world. And when I lose sight of that, yeah, I really find no interest in fighting without the opportunity to become the best in the world.”

Without a victory since September of last year, Hooker displayed his grappling and wrestling ability en route to a unanimous decision win over the touted prospect, Nasrat Haqparast back at UFC 266.

In other notable Octagon victories, Hooker has defeated Jim Miller, Marc Diakiese, Ross Pearson, James Vick, Al Iaquinta, Paul Felder, and former welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns.

Hooker Lays Out How Oliveira Should Have Fought Against Islam

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has sought to explain how Charles Oliveira could have avoided the “tactical failure” that led to his defeat at UFC 280. This past weekend in Abu Dhabi, Oliveira had hoped to continue his impressive win streak and …

Continue Reading Hooker Lays Out How Oliveira Should Have Fought Against Islam at MMA News.

Hooker Points Out Flaw In How Fighters Call Out McGregor

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has questioned the logic behind how some fighters choose to call out former two-division champion Conor McGregor. If there’s one man whom most want to fight, it’s McGregor. The “Notorious” Irishman has achieved immense success inside the cage, most notably becoming the first to hold two titles simultaneously in UFC…

Continue Reading Hooker Points Out Flaw In How Fighters Call Out McGregor at MMA News.

Exclusive | Calvin Kattar questions whether Arnold Allen can compete with top 5 caliber opposition: “We’re gonna see how he handles it”

Calvin Kattar is set to face off against surging British star Arnold Allen in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in the near future. Kattar recently spoke with LowKickMMA in an exclusive interview, where he gave his thoughts on Allen. Whilst ‘The Boston Finisher’ clearly has respect for the Brit, he does also […]

Calvin Kattar is set to face off against surging British star Arnold Allen in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in the near future.

Kattar recently spoke with LowKickMMA in an exclusive interview, where he gave his thoughts on Allen. Whilst ‘The Boston Finisher’ clearly has respect for the Brit, he does also raise the point that Allen is yet to face off against a true top 5 featherweight.

“This kids on the way up,” states Kattar. “He’s like 8-0, something like that. Climbing the rankings. Doing what he’s gotta do. And to me it’s just another target moving in my direction… They’re all just opposition and an opportunity for me to go out there and prove why I’m one of the best in the world, and change my life with another win.”

“If your able to go 9-0 in the UFC it’s impressive. That being said, I don’t know if he’s ever fought anybody like myself or of that top-five caliber. We’re gonna see how he handles it.”

Calvin Kattar on Arnold Allen’s win over Dan Hooker

Arnold Allen’s biggest win to date is his recent victory over Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker, who had made the move down to 145lbs in an attempt to make a run at the title. Allen would stop Hooker in his tracks, knocking the CKB fighter out in the first round.

Calvin Kattar had the following to say about Allen’s win over Hooker:

“Congratulations. It’s a big W. Probably his biggest win to date, like you said. I mean, other than that, I didn’t really think much about it. Good job. There are so many other guys coming up in the rankings, he’s not the only undefeated guy coming up. There’s a few of them. And I’m not really looking behind me as much as I am in front of me. So, it’s kinda like, I think I’m gonna fight all of these guys eventually. In what order, I don’t know.“

Calvin Kattar reacts to taking the Allen fight on 6 weeks’ notice

Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen will take place on Oct. 29, a mere six weeks away. Whilst the likes of Kevin Holland may scoff at the idea of this being a short-notice fight, one should bare in mind that this is a top-five fight with potential title ramifications for both men. Kattar discussed how this shorter style fight camp has become the new standard for UFC fights, with his recent main event clash against Josh Emmett having a similar 7-week notice. He does also note that it is not necessarily a negative change:

“(Josh) Emmett was seven weeks. It seems to be the new norm here in the UFC, these quick camps. There are pros and cons to everything. The Giga (Chikadze) camp was 14 weeks, that was forever, it felt like. That sucked in itself. Even though you have all the time in the world, that sucked too you know. As good as it was, it was a long camp. I got covid twice during that camp. That’s how long it was.”

Tag: Dan Hooker