Dan Hooker News

Chris Taylor - September 21, 2019

Dan Hooker believes current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is beatable and has named three fighters he thinks are capable of dethroning ‘The Eagle’. Hooker (18-8 MMA) will return to action in the co-headliner of next month’s highly anticipated UFC 243 event where he will square off with former title challenger Al Iaquinta.

Tom Taylor - August 1, 2019

New Zealand’s Dan Hooker recently campaigned for a fight with Al Iaquinta, suggesting the meeting occur at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia, but ultimately moved on and accused Iaquinta of ducking him. “He keeps saying he wants it; I said that’s the fight to make,” Hooker told MMA Junkie recently. “If I’m lying, the fight would be booked already.

Tom Taylor - July 30, 2019

After knocking out James Vick at UFC San Antonio, New Zealand’s Dan Hooker began campaigning for a fight with Al Iaquinta at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. Before long, however, Hooker was claiming that Iaquinta had turned down the fight. UFC told me you turned down the fight. Quit acting like you want to fight me, you don't. #ragingbuildups https://t.co/1h9COKF0vh

Adam Martin - July 28, 2019

Following a brutal first-round KO win over James Vick last weekend at UFC San Antonio, lightweight Dan Hooker called out fellow contender Al Iaquinta for a fight at UFC 243 in Australia this October. The fans wanted to see the fight, and it seemed like both fighters were into it. Not so, says Hooker. The Kiwi claims that the UFC told him Iaquinta turned the fight down. Here’s what Hooker said on his social media:

Chris Taylor - July 20, 2019

A lightweight bout between Dan Hooker and James Vick took place on the main card of tonight’s UFC San Antonio event. Dan Hooker (17-8 MMA) enters tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after having his four-fight win streak snapped by Edson Barboza this past December.

Tom Taylor - January 14, 2019

Over the weekend, UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker had his wallet stolen from his truck. From the sounds of it, he’s nearly tracked down the thief behind this crime.

Cole Shelton - December 16, 2018

Last night, the UFC held its final show on FOX and had two very important lightweight fights as the main and co-main events. Both fights had major implications on the rankings and on the contendership situation.  In the end, Al Iaquinta defeated Kevin Lee by unanimous decision in the main event, while in the co-main, Edson Barboza put on a dominating performance with a TKO win over Dan Hooker. With these wins, Iaquinta will surely soar up the rankings, while Edson Barboza is likely to hover around the number five spot. The biggest question to emerge from the card is what will Kevin Lee do next. Many believe he should go up to welterweight, but he is one of many fighters clamoring for a 165-pound division.

Tom Taylor - December 16, 2018

On Saturday night, in the co-main event of UFC Milwaukee, streaking UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker stepped into the cage with Brazilian knockout artist Edson Barboza in what was easily one of the biggest tests of his career thus far. Hooker flaunted unbelievable toughness and heart in this contest, but was decisively walloped by his Brazilian opponent throughout, absorbing dozens of strikes to the legs, body and head, and ultimately stopped in the third round.

Chris Taylor - December 15, 2018

In the co-main event of UFC on FOX 31, lightweights Dan Hooker and Edson Barboza squared off in hopes of moving up the 155-pound ranks. Barboza (19-6 MMA) entered tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after suffering losses to the aforementioned Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kevin Lee in his most recent octagon appearances.

Drake Riggs - September 5, 2018

With plenty of stellar matchups on the horizon, another one in the lightweight division has been made for the UFC’s final show on primetime Fox. After finding himself on the receiving end of two incredibly one-sided beatdowns, perennial top 10 contender Edson Barboza (19-6) is ready to try and rebound. But he’ll have to do so against one of the hungriest rising contenders in the division who has more than enough momentum to ride at the moment.

Drake Riggs - July 16, 2018

There were several big winners on July 7th at UFC 226. Two of which were lightweight fighters who could potentially cross paths one day. In fact, that’s exactly what Dan Hooker’s coach Eugene Bareman hopes happens next for his fighter.

Chris Taylor - July 7, 2018

A lightweight scrap between Dan Hooker and Gilbert Burns served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 226 Fight Pass prelims. Dan Hooker (17-7 MMA) entered tonight’s bout on a three fight win streak, his latest being a brutal first-round knockout victory over Jim Miller this past April.

Tom Taylor - April 27, 2018

New Zealand lightweight Dan Hooker is now on an impressive three-fight win-streak, and he’s hoping to be rewarded for this success with a big step up in competition. In particular, he’s hoping to fight former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who he considers “the stupidest guy in the division.” Hooker made his callout of Gaethje on a recent episode of Submission Radio. Here’s what he had to say about the former WSOF champ:

Chris Taylor - April 21, 2018

VIDEO | Dan Hooker destroys Jim Miller at UFC Atlantic City A lightweight scrap between veteran Jim Miller and rising contender Dan Hooker kicked off tonight’s UFC Fight Night 128 main card in Atlantic City.

Justin Golightly - March 16, 2018

As far as quality of competition goes, Dan Hooker is on the best streak of his career. Two finishes back-to-back over Ross Pearson and Marc Diakiese has led him to his biggest challenge yet. Jim Miller is not only Hooker’s next opponent, but a fighter that he respects. That doesn’t mean he’s not going to try to knock him out with a liver shot at UFC Atlantic City. “Jim Miller’s been a big name since I first started watching UFC. I think this fight will tie him with Michael Bisping for the most UFC fights of all time. I think he’s on 28, and then our fight will make him 29, so that will tie him for the most UFC fights ever. So there’s a lot of guys going around calling themselves ‘UFC veterans’ after a couple of fights, but Jim Miller is about as veteran as you come. So this is a fight, you know, I relish a name like that. I love it when you get that name and it’s someone you look up to, it’s someone you recognise their name and you think back to all the fights you’ve seen them have, all the wars. So yeah, I like seeing the posters up there with our names squared off against each other.”

Chris Taylor - December 30, 2017

A lightweight scrap between exciting fighters Marc Diakiese and Dan Hooker took place on the main card of tonight’s UFC 219 event in Las Vegas. Round one begins and Diakiese quickly takes the center of the octagon. Hooker throws a jab that misses. He circles around the outside. Marc throws a side kick that misses. Both men are very cautious early here. Hooker feints with a low kick. Diakiese throws a side kick to the thigh that lands. Hooker with a low kick and then just misses with a high kick. Marc circles along the fence. He steps in with a side kick that partially connects. Hooker with a right hand and then slips a straight right from Marc. Hooker with a kick to the body and then catches a spinning back kick from Diakiese. Dan is doing an excellent job early here. He lands a crisp jab. Diakiese misses with a low kick. Hooker connects with one of his own. Marc circles and then lands a nice switch kick. One minute remains in round one. Hooker throws a low kick but Diakiese catches it and then lands a low kick of his own. Hooker leaps in with a nice body kick. Diakiese attempts to shoot for a takedown but Hooker sweeps him and winds up in top position. Round one comes to an end.