Issue 165

March 2018

Dan Hooker confirms his chokes can finish a fight as well as his strikes.

Fighting on the biggest stage of his career on a pay-per-view main card, and against an opponent with knockout power in Marc Diakiese, Dan Hooker fought cautiously for the first 10 minutes before he struck.

“I gave him some time, I managed to stay on the outside and pick him off,” he said, post-fight. “I won the first and second, so I was expecting him to come out explosively in the third round. I couldn’t rush anything. That’s when you get silly and get caught.”

Previously, the New Zealander, had made his mark with a series of violent and spectacular knockouts.

Ian Entwistle’s night was ended by elbows, Hatsu Hioki was dispatched with a highlight-reel head kick and Ross Pearson ate dirt after chowing down on a perfectly-placed knee.

But he has just as many career finishes by submission and he showed why lightweights should be wary of his chokes again at the start of the third round. With a 75-inch reach – huge for the lightweight division – he was able to slide his forearm under the chin of Diakiese and made the Brit tap almost instantly.

“I’m a finisher,” he added. “That’s my second finish with that choke in the UFC. Everyone’s got things their body type is good at.” This just so happens to be his...

STEP 1: WAITING FOR THE WINDOW

“I started trying to time something. Stay relaxed, and I knew the opportunity would come.”

STEP 2 : OUT IN THE OPEN

“He just got put under pressure and took a lazy shot and that’s when I snatched his neck.” 

STEP 3: CAPITALIZING QUICK

“Once you know, you know. I snatched that up quick and had it on tight.” 

STEP 4: TOO FAST

“Herb (Dean) was a bit slow on the uptake, but you can’t stop when your opponent taps: you’ve got to stop when the ref comes!