Dan Hooker is gearing up for a major return to the Octagon—and he's not looking for an easy path.
The veteran lightweight (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) recently took to social media to throw down the gauntlet, calling out top-tier contenders Arman Tsarukyan (22-3, 9-2 UFC) and Charles Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC). Hooker is eyeing a slot on the UFC’s November pay-per-view lineup at Madison Square Garden and wants nothing less than a high-caliber opponent.
In a string of tweets, Hooker gave his take on the current lightweight title picture, zeroing in on Tsarukyan, who was previously slated to challenge Islam Makhachev for the belt at UFC 311 but withdrew from the bout. For Hooker, facing Tsarukyan represents a chance to reinsert himself into the title conversation by taking on one of the division’s most dangerous rising stars.
"I think they're going to do (Max) Holloway-Oliveira (and) they're going to do (Justin) Gaethje for the title," Hooker told Submission Radio. "That leaves Arman in the lurch. He's stuck fighting me, brother. He's got to fight me to get back in the mix and to get a title shot. And that's always the fight I want, and not because he's a prick and I hate him, but because I genuinely think that he's the harder fight."
Dan Hooker didn’t mince words when the topic of Paddy Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) came up. Rather than entertain the idea, “The Hangman” took a swipe at Pimblett and made it clear his sights are set higher—specifically on Arman Tsarukyan, whom he sees as a far more meaningful challenge.
"I don't think the guy's that good," Hooker said of Pimblett. "And it brings out the best of me when I fight an actual good fighter. Like, when they give me someone that I think I can beat, or I think someone's sh*t, then I fight sh*t. Like, my mind subconsciously relaxes because I think they're sh*t, and then I do sh*t, then they beat me.
"But when I fight a guy that I think could kick my ass, then my subconscious goes, 'Oh,sh*t, we might get our ass kicked.' Then I wake up so, I actually end up fighting really well. So, I'd rather just fight the best guy so I actually perform well."
