Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has given his prediction for his former opponent Dan Hooker’s upcoming clash with Islam Makhachev.
On short notice, Hooker will be facing Makhachev on the main card of UFC 267 this weekend. T…
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has given his prediction for his former opponent Dan Hooker’s upcoming clash with Islam Makhachev.
On short notice, Hooker will be facing Makhachev on the main card of UFC 267 this weekend. The Dagestani was originally set to face bitter rival Rafael dos Anjos at the Abu Dhabi-held event. For the third time since last October, that matchup collapsed in the build-up. Following surgery, the Brazilian was forced to pull out and, should Makhachev secure a victory on Saturday, will likely be moving onto different things when he returns to action.
For Hooker, this will mark his second Octagon outing in just over a month. “The Hangman” rebounded from back-to-back setbacks against Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler with a mature performance against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266. Just days later, the New Zealander found himself signing another bout agreement, this time against the #5-ranked lightweight, and the heir apparent to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.
DAN HOOKER (@danthehangman) is stepping in to face Islam Makhachev (@MAKHACHEVMMA) at UFC 267 in one month, per Dana White (@danawhite). Just fought at UFC 266, on a week he had to fly from New Zealand to Vegas two days before the fight. What a savage, this guy. pic.twitter.com/DJvGnbWwlF
Having risen to #6 in the 155-pound top 15, Hooker will be looking to stake his claim for a title shot with an impressive performance against the surging Makhachev on Saturday’s main card. But many have doubted his ability to handle the Dagestani. Along with AKA head coach Javier Mendez, Khabib, Makhachev’s friend and teammate, believes a “lucky punch” is the only way his man falls short against the New Zealander.
While Hooker himself has disputed those claims, top-five lightweight Michael Chandler has also expressed his disagreement with that assessment. “Iron,” who faced and defeated “The Hangman” in his UFC debut earlier this year, recently explained why he’s backing the underdog to have his hand raised.
During an interview with The Schmo, Chandler denied the idea that his first-round win against Hooker showed any sort of weakness in the 31-year-old’s toughness or chin. But not only does he not see a path to a finish for Makhachev, but the former Bellator Lightweight Champion believes Hooker will use his length to keep the Russian at distance and defend against his attempts to control the action on the cage.
“Man, I think Dan Hooker is one of the toughest guys in the division, one of the toughest chins in the division, and I think this is a fight game in which we fight in four-ounce gloves, man. You can get caught on the chin by anybody on any night and it’s over. So the fact that I was able to finish him in the first two and a half minutes is not indicative of him not having a great chin, not being able to push the pace. He’s extremely long. He’s extremely versatile. He uses that length. I think Makachev is gonna have a tough time getting in and closing the distance on Dan Hooker. Even if he does get him on the cage, I think Dan Hooker’s cage defense—as we saw in Poirier fight, as we saw in his last fight, both offense and defense off of the cage control—he’s really skilled there. So I do think Dan Hooker wins that fight. I do.”
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has suggested a motive behind his upcoming opponent Dan Hooker’s desire for a five-round fight.
At UFC 267, Makhachev will be entering the Octagon for the third time this year. After building a six-fight wi…
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has suggested a motive behind his upcoming opponent Dan Hooker’s desire for a five-round fight.
At UFC 267, Makhachev will be entering the Octagon for the third time this year. After building a six-fight win streak prior to 2020, the Dagestani picked up where he left off at UFC 259 this March, having sat out the entirety of last year. Against Drew Dober, Makhachev secured his first submission victory since his promotional debut in 2015.
Four months later, the 31-year-old made it three. With the use of a rear-naked choke, Makhachev got past the ranked Thiago Moisés in his first UFC main event. After jumping into the lightweight top five, Makhachev was set for his toughest test to date against Rafael dos Anjos on October 30. However, reminiscent of their two failed attempts to clash in last year, their matchup once again failed to come to fruition after the Brazilian withdrew.
On short notice, and just days after his victory over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, Hooker stepped in to face Makhachev. The #6-ranked contender will look to derail the Russian’s hype train this Saturday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CViAZf7spsq/
Makhachev Thinks He Knows Hooker’s Five-Round Motive
Whilst many believe Hooker’s request derived from his experience in five-round contests, which has seen him fight for the full 25 minutes twice in the UFC, Makhachev has another theory. During a recent interview with BT Sport, the former combat sambo world champion suggested his opponent agreed to their fight for money, something he could get more of through a five-round affair.
“Honestly, I think Hooker come to Abu Dhabi just for make money. That’s why he ask about five rounds, because he know. Some fighters, they give five rounds, they paid more money. I think before, when he took this fight, he asked about more money, too. He say, ‘I’m gonna fight this one, but you guys just have to pay me more.’ He come to Abu Dhabi just (to) do good business, you know?”
Makhachev added that Hooker had turned him down as an opponent before, citing the Dagestani’s inability to sell tickets. Having been offered the fight at an Abu Dhabi event, where support will be at an all-time high for Makhachev, Hooker changed his tune, according to the AKA product.
Despite Hooker’s five-round experience, Makhachev also reiterated that a 25-minute limit wouldn’t aid “The Hangman” on fight night. Having seen Hooker fade later on against Dustin Poirier last year, Makhachev firmly believes the request was simply motivated by money, not by a perceived advantage over the longer distance.
“Let’s go. Let’s go. Why not? I asked a lot of times, ‘Hey, give me Hooker’ before. Before he don’t want to fight with me. He say I cannot sell all tickets and ‘If I take this fight…’ something like this. But now, I’m gonna sell for him all tickets in arena. And five rounds, OK, if we watch his fight, five-round fight versus Barboza, versus Poirier, he always have trouble in round #4 and #5. Versus Poirier, almost died there. That’s why I just told you, this is good money fight for him….everybody knows.”
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 267, Islam Makhachev or Dan Hooker?
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker says Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments won’t affect his performance against the Russian’s teammate Islam Makhachev on Saturday.
Just days out from his unanimous decision victory over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 las…
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker says Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments won’t affect his performance against the Russian’s teammate Islam Makhachev on Saturday.
Just days out from his unanimous decision victory over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 last month, Hooker found himself for preparing for another clash, this time against the #5-ranked Makhachev at UFC 267.
Having suffered consecutive losses at the hands of Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, “The Hangman” had fallen down the rankings and out of title contention. If he can secure a second win in barely a month, especially given the challenge he faces this weekend, the New Zealander will no doubt throw his name back into the hat of contenders to the 155-pound gold.
Makhachev will certainly be no easy opponent, and will understandably head into their main card clash on Saturday as the favorite. The Dagestani has built an eight-fight win streak, the most recent of which came in his main event debut earlier this year. In the UFC Vegas 31 headliner, the 31-year-old submitted the ranked Thiago Moisés in the fourth round.
On a stacked card that features two title fights, the return of Khamzat Chimaev, and a host of top prospects from outside of America, this exciting lightweight clash has the potential to steal the show.
Whilst Hooker and Makhachev have refrained from any real trash talk ahead of this fight, even engaging in a respectful handshake at Thursday’s press conference, the same can’t be said for some members of the Russian’s team. American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez and former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov have both made their thoughts on Hooker’s chances of having his hand raised in Abu Dhabi known.
“The Eagle,” who is a friend and teammate of Makhachev, suggested that Hooker’s only hope of victory is to land a “lucky punch.” Having previously responded to those claims, Hooker has now revealed why he believes members of his opponent’s camp have continued to downplay his abilities.
During an appearance on Submission Radio, Hooker suggested Khabib and Mendez’s comments derived from their desire to force him to fight Makhachev in a certain style and with a certain goal in mind. However, “The Hangman” is aware of what he perceives to be mind games, and says it won’t affect his performance come fight night.
“I feel like I know what they’re [Mendez and Khabib] doing… They’re trying to put that thought into my mind where I’m just like, ‘Ah, I’ve got to knock him out.’ But then as soon as you’re only trying to knock someone out or look for that big finish, you get heavy and you get slow, and you’re waiting, and to perform that knockout strike, you’re very planted and heavy on your feet. It’s very easy for someone to grab hold of you when you’re in that state. So that’s definitely not what I’m thinking.
“All of the times I’ve knocked someone out, I’ve not been trying to knock them out, I’ve just been fighting my fight, and feeling sharp, and doing the things that I need to do, and making good decisions, and the knockouts just happen, they just come. That’s what I’m preparing for. I’m preparing for going out there and being in a state where I perform my best; making great decisions and getting the best of this guy, and proving that I’m the better fighter. If a knockout comes, if a submission comes, then it comes. But I truly feel like I’m gonna win this fight.”
With that in mind, Hooker has revealed that, given the doubts many have about his ability to outclass Makhachev, he’d rather deliver a dominant three-round display at UFC 267 over a quick KO. Either way, if the #6-ranked contender has his way, the likes of Khabib will be eating their words inside the Etihad Arena on Saturday.
Who do you think will emerge victorious at UFC 267, Dan Hooker or Islam Makhachev?
We’ve got you covered with our staff picks for UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira! It all goes down in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira, which will NOT be on pay-per-view but rather a special feature presentation streaming on ESPN+. Make sure you are well-rested and ready to bet, watch, scream, and […]
We’ve got you covered with our staff picks for UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira!
It all goes down in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira, which will NOT be on pay-per-view but rather a special feature presentation streaming on ESPN+. Make sure you are well-rested and ready to bet, watch, scream, and shout as this early event kicks off at 10:30 AM ET (prelims), with the main card scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.
There will be two title fights waiting for you and a stacked fight card from top to bottom, capped off with Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira competing for the light heavyweight championship. In the co-main event, Petr Yan will look to return bantamweight gold to his waist, interim or otherwise, as he goes up against the electric Cory Sandhagen.
Also on tap for tomorrow night is the man often considered to be “The Next Khabib,” Islam Makhachev, who will face Dan Hooker. The Russian invasion will also include appearances from Magomed Ankalaev and Alexander Volkov competing on the main card. And who can forget the highly anticipated return of “Borz,” Khmazat Chimaev, who will look to come back with a smesh when he takes on UFC vet Li Jingliang.
You can check out the full UFC 267 main card below!
UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Main Card
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Jan Blachowicz (c) vs. Glover Teixeira
UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship Bout: Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen
Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker
Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura
Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir
UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 267 updates. Staff members Andrew Ravens, Doug Murray, and Harvey Leonard have provided predictions for the main card. And based on the consistency of the picks, there seems to be a lot of safe bets to be made according to these three staffers! Check out their picks below!
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Magomed Ankalaev, Volkan Oezdemir
Andrew Ravens: Volkan could be in for a rough night at the office when he steps into the Octagon against Ankalaev, who has looked exceptional aside from his promotional debut that he lost. Ankalaev seems to get better and better every outing while Volkvan has flattened at his spot. Ankalaev walks away with the decision win. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Doug Murray: Ankalaev can extend his winning streak to seven with a win against Oezdemir. The former title challenger took a devastating loss when he fell at the hands of Ji?í Procházka. Since Oezdemir’s last fight ended by getting finished, his approach will likely be toned down when he meets Ankalaev. With that in mind, Ankalaev’s pressure and high kicks will be difficult for Oezdemir to dodge for 15 minutes. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Harvey Leonard: As good as Oezdemir was at the start of his UFC career, he’s certainly not at his best anymore. I think his victory over Aleksandar Raki? has perhaps disguised that slightly. The result was controversial, and it seemed pretty clear he should have lost. With more competent judging, the Swiss contender would be sitting with five losses in his last six. At that point, a reset against lower-ranked opposition (similar to Dan Hooker last month) is needed. Magomed Ankalaev certainly isn’t that. With the Dagestani’s superior accuracy on the feet and Oezdemir’s inferior defense, I see Ankalaev extending his streak to seven. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Consensus: 3-0 Ankalaev
Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Li Jingliang and Khamzat Chimaev
Andrew Ravens: Here’s a chance for Chimaev to get another knockout highlight reel, and I see it happening. Li is a good fighter but does have moments where he simply doesn’t show up as expected. If that happens, then Chimaev is going to get a bonus at his expense. Chimaev stops him in the second round. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)
Doug Murray: Mystery shrouds this welterweight showdown. Since Chimaev was forced to the sidelines after contracting COVID-19, his massive audience awaits his return to Fight Island. With three wins and three finishes in the UFC, Chimaev’s speed and ability to predict opponents as they grapple make his style a nightmare to deal with. While Li is a powerful 170-pound fighter, Chimaev’s speed and takedowns will set the tone for this fight early. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)
Harvey Leonard: Whenever a fighter reveals they didn’t know who their opponent was before a booking, I’m wary to side with them. I can picture the clip of Chimaev at media day being brought up after a defeat. However, I do think the edge lies with “Borz.” He may have been away for over a year, but the quality he trains with at the Allstar gym in Stockholm shouldn’t make that an issue.
Whilst “The Leech” possesses the KO power to finish anyone, his shortcomings on the ground were evident in his loss to Neil Magny. We saw how brutal Chimaev can be when he gets his opponents down, and whilst he hasn’t faced a talent like Jingliang, I’d expect his pressure wrestling to be too much. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)
Consensus: 3-0 Chimaev
Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura
(via Zuffa LLC)
Andrew Ravens: Volkov is looking to rebound after losing his previous fight against Cyril Gane while Tybura has been on fire as he’s won five straight. I see Volkov being really fired up to get a win here and prove that yes, he can fight with the best of the best. I don’t see Tybura at that level and predict Volkov can back that up with a TKO win. (Prediction: Alexander Volkov)
Doug Murray: A battle of two titans, don’t look now, but Tybura has amassed a five-fight winning streak with the promotion. Tybura is finally synergizing his standup with his strength on the canvas. The heavyweight showed his path to victory in his last fight. With damaging ground and pound, Tybura will need to get “Drago” to the mat to drastically increase his odds for success. Volkov has shown a stellar takedown defense as a former champion in Bellator, and his striking will be overwhelming if the fight makes it to the third round. (Prediction: Alexander Volkov)
Harvey Leonard: Tybura is on a pretty devastating win streak, but he’s not come close to facing an opponent with the skill of Volkov during it. The only times he’s faced heavyweights similar to his level on the feet, he was finished by Derrick Lewis and Augusto Sakai. The Pole’s threat is power, but given that Volkov has only been finished by Lewis in the UFC, I can’t see a scenario where he gets taken out by Tybura.
Volkov’s striking is up there with the best in the division, and through The Russian’s reach and speed advantage, I’d expect “Drago” to put it on full display. I’d fancy a Volkov finish, but if it goes to the scorecards, Tybura will struggle to outpoint him. (Prediction: Alexander Volkov)
Consensus: 3-0 Volkov
Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker
Islam Makhachev, Dan Hooker (Image Credits: Mike Lawrie/Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Andrew Ravens: There are levels to this game, and it looks like Islam is on his way to the top tier. That’s not to say Hooker is not a real challenge as he’s a really good fighter. Islam has been running through people, but Hooker is his first real test, and he’s gonna have to put out his best to get past Hooker. I do think that happens with Islam getting the decision win. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Doug Murray: Burn the boats. Dan Hooker is coming to Fight Island after just competing on Sept. 25, “The Hangman” is becoming somewhat of a hardcore fight fan’s dream. The wrestling skills of Hooker appear to be evolving rapidly, and he showed as much in his fight against Nasrat Haqparast. With a style geared toward volume, Hooker poses some real challenges to Makhachev. The heir to Khabib Nurmagomedov has looked impressive in the cage. And with a short camp for Hooker, Makhachev’s pressure will likely get the best of Hooker. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Harvey Leonard: As much as I’d love for Hooker’s attitude to be rewarded with a victory, it’s hard to bet against the imposing game of Makhachev. Whilst I don’t buy into the idea that it’s as one-sided as the likes of Khabib would like us to believe, I do think “The Hangman” could struggle to implement his game if the Dagestani imposes his own early. Hooker’s route to victory is clearly keeping the fight on the feet. If he can’t, Makhachev could force a submission, but I think a controlling decision is more likely. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Consensus: 3-0 Makhachev
Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen
Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Andrew Ravens: In my eyes, Yan is still champion and not Aljamain Sterling. We all know why Yan isn’t technically the champion right now and to his credit, instead of waiting for Sterling, he’s trying to stay active. In such a deep division, there are no easy tests and this inserts Sandhagen, who has a real chance to win this fight. I think Yan is the better fighter, but this will be a close, back-and-forth, and fun fight. (Prediction: Petr Yan)
Doug Murray: After going the distance with TJ Dillashaw, Sandhagen’s style is so fan-friendly that it was no surprise he got the call after hearing the champion was injured. I think Sandhagen’s kick-heavy style will be to his detriment against a disciplined boxer like Petr Yan. Yan is able to connect at will when opponents tire and relies heavily on a boxing repertoire that should carry him to the win. (Prediction: Petr Yan)
Harvey Leonard: This is arguably a better fight on paper than the original Yan vs. Sterling rematch. The contrast between the Russian’s tight boxing and forward pressure and Sandhagen’s kickboxing and elusive movement should make for a barnburner. Whilst Sandhagen is always capable of a highlight-reel KO and Yan is always looking for a brutal finish, I expect this one to go the distance.
If “The Sandman” can stay at range and catch Yan when he attempts to move in, perhaps even with a knee as the Russian ducks low with his shots, he is capable of outpointing “No Mercy.” But whilst I expect him to have some success doing so, I believe Yan will have the better of the exchanges, especially in the later rounds. (Prediction: Petr Yan)
Consensus: 3-0 Yan
Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira
Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira
Andrew Ravens: Some casuals may overlook Glover in this fight, but the hardcore fans know how dangerous Glover can be. However, I see this to be a one-sided beatdown by Jan. In the current division, I don’t see anyone beating Jan right now, and I add Glover to that list. Glover has a puncher’s chance early and won’t be put away, but I have Jan getting his hand raised after a decision win. (Prediction: Jan Blachowicz)
Doug Murray: The light heavyweight titleholder made his name as a Polish champion in KSW. B?achowicz is well versed in maintaining a fight’s geography. As a powerful counter puncher and reactive wrestler, the 38-year-old has all of the tools to deal with Teixeira. While the Brazilian challenger may have the edge in power on the feet, B?achowicz will be too much for a UFC legend that appears to be slowing despite stringing a massive streak together. (Prediction: Jan Blachowicz)
Harvey Leonard: After the bad blood in last weekend’s main event, it’s a nice change of pace to have two headliners respecting each other. As much of a feel-good story as it would be for Teixeira to become the UFC’s second post-40 champion, I believe he’ll fall short. Of course, he does boast incredible Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, and if the fight does hit the mat, he has what it takes to submit the champion.
However, on the feet, Blachowicz will have a speed and power advantage, which will not only help him control the exchanges and possibly find a finish but will also aid him in resisting Teixeira’s attempts to take him down and keep him there. The 42-year-old can never be counted out, but “and new” would surprise me. (Prediction: Jan Blachowicz)
Consensus: 3-0 Blachowicz
That’ll do it for our unanimous staff picks! What do you think? Are these fights as clear-cut as our three staffers seem to think? Or do you see some upsets brewing? Feel free to drop your own picks in the comments section, and you can check out the UFC 267 undercard below.
UFC 267 Undercard
PRELIMINARY CARD
Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba (Women’s Strawweight)
Ricardo Ramos vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (Featherweight)
Albert Duraev vs. Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (Light Heavyweight)
Makwan Amirkhani vs. Lerone Murphy (Featherweight)
Hu Yaozong vs. Alen Amedovski (Middleweight)
Magomed Mustafaev vs. Damir Ismagulov (Lightweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Allan Nascimento (Flyweight)
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 267!
Michael Chandler may have respect for Islam Makhachev, but he believes something was fishy with the Russian’s jump in rankings. After a long tenure in Bellator that saw him being their biggest homegrown star, Chandler made the move to the UFC where he beat Dan Hooker by first-round knockout in his debut. Hooker will now […]
Given his relationship with Hooker, it makes sense that Chandler was asked about this fight and Makhachev as a whole while speaking in an interview with The Schmo. Here, the top-ranked lightweight said that there is a good chance the Khabib protege will be the future of the division, although he thinks it is questionable that Makhachev was able to jump in the top 5 of the division without beating anyone within the top ten.
“I think Makachev fought #14. He was #9. He fought #14, beat #14, and somehow ended up with #5 without having to fight anybody in that upper echelon in the top 10. But Makachev is definitely a future of the lightweight division. He is good, he is skilled, he does have the entire country on his back, so he’s fighting for more than just himself,“ Chandler said.
Michael Chandler was not the only one confused by this when the rankings update came out and showed that Islam Makhachev was in the top five after beating Thiago Moisés. That said, when thinking about it a little more, it makes it easy to realize that this may have been a combination of his winning streak, his relationship with UFC superstar Khabib, and how hard it was to find him a fight while being ranked so low.
Either way, Islam Makhachev will have the chance to prove he is deserving of his place in the rankings when he takes on Dan Hooker at UFC 267. This will easily be the biggest test of his young career.
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is relishing the chance to prove his doubters wrong against Islam Makhachev, believing he “knows something they don’t.” Hooker has long been known as an always-game, always-entertaining, and always-tough contender. That reputation has only been enhanced across the last couple of months. “The Hangman” first drew praise from all corners of […]
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is relishing the chance to prove his doubters wrong against Islam Makhachev, believing he “knows something they don’t.”
Hooker has long been known as an always-game, always-entertaining, and always-tough contender. That reputation has only been enhanced across the last couple of months. “The Hangman” first drew praise from all corners of the MMA community for his journey to the cage at UFC 266 last month.
After battling New Zealand’s stringent lockdown restrictions, which prevented him from training with his teammates or in his own empty gym, Hooker’s September 25 matchup hit another roadblock after he struggled to secure a US visa. Eventually, the 31-year-old made it to las Vegas with just one day to make weight. The fact he completed that only amplifies the criticism the likes of Paulo Costa will receive for their weight mishaps.
After delivering a mature and intelligent performance against Nasrat Haqparast inside the T-Mobile Arena, Hooker found himself signing on for another fight just days later. Following the withdrawal of Rafael dos Anjos, Makhachev was left without an opponent for October 30. With little hesitation, “The Hangman” stepped up and will face the #5-ranked lightweight at UFC 267 this weekend.
Whilst Hooker and Makhachev have refrained from any sort of trash talk, the build-up to their contest has largely centered around people from the Dagestani’s close circle downplaying the threat the New Zealander poses to their man. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s friend and teammate, even suggested Hooker’s only path to victory is a “lucky punch.”
Whilst many were surprised to see him agree to face a grappling specialist, Hooker recently revealed in an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto that he has no issue fighting a talented wrestler. He even suggested he’d have done it more across his UFC career had the promotion been willing to match him up with one.
“It’s just as intriguing to me, it’s just as exciting to me to get out there with a specialist. I haven’t been matched up with these guys, not from my choice. It’s not like I’ve ever turned down a wrestler, it’s not like I’ve ever turned down a grappling specialist. It’s just the UFC doesn’t give them to me. They see that I’m an exciting guy, so they obviously match us with other guys who are gonna go out there and put on entertaining matchups.”
Hooker added that he’s just as excited to be facing a fighter like Makhachev than he has been in the past when facing top strikers like Dustin Poirier and Paul Felder. For the #6-ranked lightweight, the chance to “neutralize” the threat of the Dagestani, especially given his superior perception, is a mouth-watering prospect.
“For me personally, this is just as an intriguing matchup as a guy who’s gonna go out there and stand and trade, and brawl, and this and that. To me, I’m more a martial arts purist. So this really intrigues me; to go out there and stifle, to neutralize a specialist. That’s an exciting matchup.”
Discussing his heavy underdog status heading into Saturday’s main card fight, Hooker suggested he’s always had a chip on his shoulder. Like usual, he expects to use it to his advantage come fight night. According to Hooker, his confidence derives from the fact he knows something most aren’t aware of.
“I’ve always got a chip on my shoulder. I use that in every fight… I just use that to motivate me. I’ve made a good living off of the chip on my shoulder… I love the chip on my shoulder. It gets me out of bed in the morning, it motivates me, it excites me.
“I feel this week that I know something. That’s why you always see me smiling and laughing. It’s because I know something that they don’t know. That’s how I feel this week. I feel like I know something that a lot of other people don’t know.”
Do you think Dan Hooker will stop the title charge of Islam Makhachev at UFC 267?
