Dan Hooker Thinks He Can Finish Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje Responds

Dan Hooker believes he can stop Dustin Poirier but Justin Gaethje isn’t convinced. Hooker has made some noise since ditching the featherweight division in favor of 155 pounds. The City Kickboxing bruiser has gone 7-1 since returning to the lightw…

Dan Hooker believes he can stop Dustin Poirier but Justin Gaethje isn’t convinced. Hooker has made some noise since ditching the featherweight division in favor of 155 pounds. The City Kickboxing bruiser has gone 7-1 since returning to the lightweight division. He’s riding a three-fight winning streak and is coming off a split decision win […]

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Dan Hooker: Dustin Poirier Doesn’t Have Paul Felder’s Chin

Hooker Dustin PoirierDan Hooker doesn’t believe Dustin Poirier will solely stand up with him. The pair of lightweights are set to headline UFC Vegas 4 which takes place June 27 at the Apex facility. For “The Diamond”, it’s a chance to bounce back from his submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in their title fight last September. For […]

Hooker Dustin Poirier

Dan Hooker doesn’t believe Dustin Poirier will solely stand up with him.

The pair of lightweights are set to headline UFC Vegas 4 which takes place June 27 at the Apex facility. For “The Diamond”, it’s a chance to bounce back from his submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in their title fight last September.

For Hooker, it is a chance to truly cement himself as a potential contender for the lightweight title, having won seven of his last eight outings. And while the New Zealander rates Poirier’s boxing, he believes the former interim champion will mix things up when they fight.

The reason? He doesn’t have the durability that Hooker’s last opponent Paul Felder — who fought him in a back-and-forth 25 minute war — does to keep the fight a striking battle.

“That’s the thing — he’s definitely going to have to adjust his game a little bit,” Hooker told MMA Fighting. “I feel like pressuring me, taking a shot, giving it, taking a shot, giving a shot is just not the way to best approach it. I don’t feel like Dustin can take a shot as well as Paul Felder can. From watching the tape of both of those fighters, I don’t think Poirier has the chin Felder does.

“I feel I can put Dustin away. If I keep touching him, there’s no way that Dustin’s going to be able to eat those shots and be able to recover from the damage I’m generally able to inflict on opponents.”

Hooker: Poirier Fight Is Win-Win

Regardless of the result, Hooker feels he’s in a win-win position when he faces Poirier.

If he defeats Poirier, it would be arguably the biggest win of his career and spearhead him into title contention. If he loses, he would still get a huge paycheck and not drop too low in the rankings, if at all.

“I would have to be stupid to not take this fight,” Hooker said. “The way I look at it, it’s a win-win situation. I’m No. 5, I’m fighting the No. 3 [ranked lightweight]. I plan on going out there, putting on one heck of a show and putting Dustin away and earning myself a title shot. That’s what my mind is set on.

“But worst-case scenario, I get my ass whooped, I don’t move that far down in the rankings and I get to make a bunch of money for my family. So the way I’m looking at it is already a win-win situation. There’s not a heck of a lot of pressure on me if I’m being honest.”

Regardless, “Hangman” is naturally looking to get the victory. And he feels a decisive one could lead to a title shot.

“I definitely have the best resume for a title shot,” Hooker added. “Winning against Dustin Poirier, especially in a good fight. A good back and forth entertaining matchup or via knockout, I solidify myself with the next best resume.”

Do you agree with Hooker?

Dustin Poirier: UFC Never Considered Rematch With Conor McGregor

McGregor PoirierPoirier: UFC Never Opened Conversation About McGregor Rematch The UFC seemingly wasn’t intent on a rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. McGregor recently announced his latest retirement after expressing frustration at not being able to fight Justin Gaethje next. The Irishman also claimed to have lost his excitement for the sport as a number […]

McGregor Poirier

Poirier: UFC Never Opened Conversation About McGregor Rematch

The UFC seemingly wasn’t intent on a rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

McGregor recently announced his latest retirement after expressing frustration at not being able to fight Justin Gaethje next. The Irishman also claimed to have lost his excitement for the sport as a number of factors prevented him from having an active year as he previously planned.

Of course, one main factor was UFC president Dana White wanting McGregor to wait for the winner of the upcoming Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje title unification fight that is planned for September. Because of that, other fights didn’t seem to be in the equation such as a potential one with Poirier.

“No, never,” Poirier told theScore when asked if the UFC considered a rematch (via EssentiallySports. “From my side, I let them know openly that I’m down to do it. I want to. But, they never really opened that conversation. I just threw it out there. Let them know I would.”

McGregor and Poirier first faced each other in a featherweight contest back in 2014 which saw the former come out with the first-round knockout win.

“The Diamond” has since regularly campaigned for a rematch, but it looks like he will have to wait a while for the time being.

In the meantime, he is set to face Dan Hooker on June 27 at UFC Vegas 4 and will be looking to return to the win column after his submission defeat to Nurmagomedov last September.

Would you have liked to have seen McGregor face Poirier again?

Dustin Poirier To Face Dan Hooker At UFC Apex On June 27

Dustin PoirierDustin Poirier and Dan Hooker will face off in Las Vegas on June 27, Dana White has announced. The UFC President told ESPN the fight had been re-scheduled for late June after previously being cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The fight was originally supposed to take place on May 16 in San Diego before […]

Dustin Poirier

Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier will face off in Vegas
Dan Hooker (left) and Dustin Poirier will face off in a lightweight clash

Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker will face off in Las Vegas on June 27, Dana White has announced. The UFC President told ESPN the fight had been re-scheduled for late June after previously being cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The fight was originally supposed to take place on May 16 in San Diego before the card was cancelled. Poirier now returns to the octagon for the first time since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in an undisputed title fight last September. Meanwhile, Dan Hooker fights off the back of a decision win over Paul Felder in February.

Dustin Poirier will be looking to get back into title contention after his undisputed title fight loss last year while Hooker aims to build on his three-fight winning streak in what the UFC fans are already calling a potential fight of the year candidate.

The UFC boss also confirmed that Welterweights Mickey Gall and Mike Perry will face each other in the co-main event of the card. Also confirmed to be fighting in the main event is Ian Heinisch and Brendan Allen in a middleweight match up, heavyweights Gian Villante and Maurice Greene will fight whilst Aspen Ladd and Sara McMann complete the main card.

The full UFC card on EPSN 12 is below (H/T MMA Fighting):

Main Card 

Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker

Mickey Gall vs. Mike Perry

Ian Heinisch vs. Brendan Allen

Gian Villante vs. Maurice Greene

Aspen Ladd vs. Sara McMann

Preliminaries

Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araujo

Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy

Philipe Lins vs. Tanner Boser

Sean Woodson vs. Kyle Nelson

Do you think Dustin Poirier will be able to get himself back in lightweight title contention with a win over top contender Dan Hooker?

Colby Covington Open To Fighting ‘Doofus’ Dustin Poirier

Covington Dustin PoirierWhile Colby Covington is only willing to face two individuals in the welterweight division, there is one more fight that interests him. Covington has been actively campaigning to either run things back with current champion Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title or face bitter rival and former teammate Jorge Masvidal in a grudge match. However, […]

Covington Dustin Poirier

While Colby Covington is only willing to face two individuals in the welterweight division, there is one more fight that interests him.

Covington has been actively campaigning to either run things back with current champion Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title or face bitter rival and former teammate Jorge Masvidal in a grudge match.

However, a grudge match with another former teammate in UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier is something that also interests Covington.

The pair used to train together at American Top Team (ATT) until things went sour when Covington mocked Poirier leading up to the latter’s defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in September last year.

Poirier would since claim things would be on sight if they met in the gym which led to increased tension within the team. And now that they are not a part of the same gym anymore, the timing is ideal to settle their differences.

“There’s only two fights to make in the welterweight division, that’s me versus Marty Fakenewsman or me versus street Judas Masvidal,” Covington told Submission Radio. “And if they can’t do that, what about Dustin Poirier? He was telling all the nerds in the media, ‘oh, next time I see Colby, it’s on sight’. It’s on sight, motherf*cker? Let’s go meet in the octagon then. I’ll paint your blood on the canvas just like a modern-day Picasso.”

Covington Apologized To Poirier Only To Appease Dan Lambert

Covington reignited his rivalry with Poirier right after leaving ATT, having previously seemed to have made up with him.

However, “Chaos” claims that was only to appease ATT owner Dan Lambert who recently implemented a zero-tolerance policy on teammate trash talking in the gym.

“Yeah, that [apology] was when I was under the rules of a gym,” Covington explained. “I was respecting the rules and I made promises. And everybody knows I’m promises made, promises kept. And I respected Dan Lambert and I didn’t want to put him in that position. But guess what, guys? Now we’re at Colby Covington Incorporated CCI, and we do whatever we want. There’s no feelings. This isn’t the Ultimate Feeling Championship, it’s the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“So, Doofus Dustin, he needs to man up for his word. His word was, ‘oh, I’m gonna fight Colby on sight’. I’ve seen that guy multiple times. He didn’t even try and fight me cause he knows what happens if he tries to fight me, he’s gonna get put down real quick. He’ll never be able to look at his daughter the same again, and his wife will probably divorce him cause he’s gonna be ugly as fuck after I’m done with his face.”

Would you like to see Covington vs. Poirier next? Who wins?  

Justin Gaethje Targeting Three More Bouts Before Retiring

UFC Interim Lightweight Champ Justin Gaethje made an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience yesterday where he talked about a variety of topics, including his personal plans for his next (and potentially last) three fights. He specifically named Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier as his list of fights he wants next before departing. […]

UFC Interim Lightweight Champ Justin Gaethje made an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience yesterday where he talked about a variety of topics, including his personal plans for his next (and potentially last) three fights. He specifically named Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier as his list of fights he wants next before departing.

Gaethje is expected to face Khabib for the undisputed Lightweight title later this year before setting his sights on McGregor and Poirier. Gaethje went on to elaborate. (H/T BJPenn.com)

“I’m in a great position because, for one I get to fight for a title, There’s 500 some odd people on this roster, every single one of them would want to be in my position right now. But I also have the ability to bring some kind of rhyme or reason, a way, a way to a title shot. For young guys that come in, they think politics run the show. They ultimately do, but there is a small chance that you get a say in your destiny and eliminate politics. That what I just did. Politics were gonna f*ck me. I wasn’t going to get the fight. Conor was going to somehow or some way get that fight. Now, I got the chance to go out there and I did what I did.”

This is all contingent on of course if he can pull of the victories. Gaethje and Mcgregor have jawed at eachother recently where Gaethje cited McGregor was “losing clout” amongst fighters.

Gaethje believes a series of victories over Ferguson, Khabib, McGregor and Poirier would put him in elite level legendary status. He added that this is all he would need in order for him to hang up the gloves, “Fight Poirier and then get the f*ck out of here,” Gaethje said. “That’s all I need. What do I need after that? That’d be legendary, I’d make plenty of money – which is ultimately what I’m here to do – and I took control of my destiny, which is all I asked for. Business wise, the smart move right now could be to fight Conor, because obviously that’s a lot of money, but I make way more money when I beat Khabib and then fight. And if Conor’s not there, I’ll fight Poirier. He’s not on my list. Khabib and Poirier are the two on my list right now. If I fight them two, with big paydays, then I’m good.”

Certaintly an inrgiuing scenario with some big pay days ahead for Gaethje.

Do you think Justin Gaethje Would Retire If He Pulls Off These 3 Straight wins?