Tag: UFC 267

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is hoping to “outclass” Islam Makhachev at UFC 267, rather than catch him with a submission or knockout shot.

Hooker’s reputation as an always-game and tough contender has been exponentially enhanced over the past month. In September, the New Zealander overcame extreme adversity to make it into the Octagon at UFC 266. Ahead of his clash with Nasrat Haqparast, “The Hangman” experienced run-ins with his country’s police over his inability to train at his own empty gym due to lockdown restrictions, was unable to prepare alongside his teammates, and struggled to secure a US visa. After a rough few weeks, Hooker arrived in Las Vegas just one day before the weigh-ins. Nevertheless, he made weight and delivered a mature and intelligent performance against his German opponent.

Having rebounded from his prior defeats to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, the expectation was for Hooker to return to New Zealand and perhaps pursue a future move to the US. Amazingly, the #6-ranked lightweight instead accepted a clash with the surging Makhachev just days out from his latest UFC outing.

After Rafael dos Anjos withdrew due to injury, the opportunity for Hooker to earn another pay check in Abu Dhabi later this month wasn’t one he was going to turn down. He’ll challenge the dominance of Dagestan’s latest sensation at UFC 267 next weekend.

Despite facing one of the most highly touted contenders in the 155-pound division, and having barely a month to prepare, Hooker is confident he can get the job done on October 30, and says he won’t bring an short-notice excuses into the fight. But Makhachev’s team doesn’t appear to be taking any threat from their man’s new opponent seriously.

Both Khabib Nurmagomedov and American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez recently suggested Hooker doesn’t have what it takes to defeat Makhachev across three rounds. “The Eagle” claimed the only way his friend and compatriot could lose is through a “lucky punch.”

Responding during an appearance at UFC Vegas 41 media day, Hooker said that not only is he capable of beating Makhachev, but he’d rather outclass him and secure a dominant decision than land a fortunate punch or catch the Russian in a submission.

“I can beat him, I can beat him. That’s like, a fact. That’s like, how I’d prefer the fight to go, is to not catch him in a submission, not catch him with a knee or anything like that, and beat him. I feel like that [a complete 15-minute performance], over snatching his neck or catching him with a knee is like… will make me feel better on the inside, give me a warm feeling in my belly. Just to like, prove everyone… that will really shut everyone up if I go out there and just outclass him. Then what’s everyone gonna say?”

Hooker added that in his mind, he actually has more ways to win than Makhachev. While “The Hangman” believes he can finish anyone on the feet or on the ground, he doesn’t see the Dagestani being able to defeat him in any way other than on the scorecards.

“Go out there and prove where your grappling lies in the division and make him look a bit silly. That’s my intention and like, my plan for the fight. That’s the only way he’s going to beat me, is by a decision. I feel like he’s gonna try and hold me down for two rounds, and that’s the plan. That will be their plan coming into the fight,” added Hooker. “He’s not like, a big ground-and-pound guy, he’s not a really slick submission specialist. It’s more like, pressuring guys and tiring them out and forcing them to give up a submission, as opposed to being like a Charles Oliveira, like a real slick submission specialist that throws up all these different submission attempts and catches guys.”

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 267, Dan Hooker or Islam Makhachev?

Continue Reading Hooker Would Rather Dominant Decision Than Finish Against Makhachev at MMA News.

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has responded to Dan Hooker’s five-round proposal for UFC 267, which “The Hangman” has perceived to be an acceptance of the challenge.

Makhachev was originally slated to fight bitter rival Rafael dos Anjos on October 30. However, due to recent surgery, the former UFC Lightweight Champion was forced to withdraw from the UFC’s non-pay-per-view numbered event. In his place stepped up Hooker. Just days out from his three-round clash with Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, which ended in a unanimous decision victory for the New Zealander, Hooker accepted a short-notice clash with one of the promotion’s fastest-rising title contenders.

As if accepting a short-notice bout against one of the most dangerous and feared men in the 155-pound weight class wasn’t enough, Hooker recently suggested their fight fight be moved from three rounds to five.

Hooker’s proposal came after members of Makhachev’s camp doubted “The Hangman” and his chances of victory this weekend. The Dagestani’s friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov recently suggested the only way his compatriot could lose is through a “lucky punch.”

Having previously responded to “The Eagle” and those doubting him by claiming he “can knock out or submit any man in this world,” Hooker has doubled down on his confidence by revealing his willingness to enter the cage with the #5-ranked lightweight for 25 minutes.

In response, Makhachev took to Twitter to suggest Hooker’s request would create a far worse scenario for the Auckland-born 31-year-old.

“It’s worse for you,” wrote Makhachev.

Having recently defeated Thiago Moisés in the fourth round of his first scheduled five-round bout in the UFC, Makhachev clearly believes he’d have the edge over 25 minutes at UFC 267.

However, Dan Hooker is no stranger to five-round battles. “The Hangman” went the 25-minute distance in back-to-back wars against Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier last year. During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, the 31-year-old explained why he requested for his matchup with Makhachev to be moved to five frames.

“Let’s do it. I just feel good, man. I feel like there was a couple of really hard weeks getting back into it, getting back into the swing of things, and by that I mean getting the rounds in with the bodies, getting the sparring in, getting the wrestling in. (I’ve been) wrestling everyday, conditioning every second day, and it was a real grind there for a couple of weeks. And then that last week just come on, man, just felt good, felt the fitness was there; wrestling for, you know, wrestling for 45 minutes straight and feeling good, feeling sharp, feeling fresh, feeling like everything was technically there.

“I feel like a five-rounder… if we can make that happen, I’m 100% in. Let’s make it five. I feel like people are intrigued by this matchup, as intrigued as the co-main and main, so let’s do it justice.”

Discussing Makhachev’s short response to the proposal, Hooker suggested he perceives it to be “a yes” from the Dagestani. He made it clear that if the increased fight length doesn’t come to fruition, it’s either down to the promotion or Makhachev’s unwillingness.

“That’s a yes, that’s, ‘That sounds good to me,’ that’s a yes. That’s him calling my bluff and me going all in. That’s me backing my hand and going all in. If that’s his response then let’s do it. What’s the hold up? Let’s make it five rounds… let’s push Sean Shelby (and) Dana White, let’s do this fight justice… let’s make it 25 minutes, let’s get after it, let’s see who really is the better fighter when we get out there.”

Would you like to see Dan Hooker and Islam Makhachev battle for five rounds rather than three at UFC 267?

Continue Reading Makhachev Responds To Five-Round Proposal, Hooker Sees It As A Yes at MMA News.