Dan Hooker is aiming to leapfrog Arman Tsarukyan in the lightweight title picture with a win this weekend.
Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) is set to face Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the main event at the Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Doha, and the Kiwi believes that a victory over the No. 1–ranked contender in the 155-pound division could be enough to earn him a title shot.
The atmosphere between Hooker and Tsarukyan has been tense since the fight was announced, but “Hangman” says he’s looking forward to blocking out the noise and focusing on getting the job done once the Octagon door closes behind him on Saturday night.
“Yeah, I hate a lot of people,” Hooker told reporters at the UFC Qatar media day. “All of that's kind of fading away now. As the fight draws closer, obviously we don't like each other. But a lot of that's just fading away as we draw closer. I'm just excited for the event. I'm excited for the moment. I'm excited to get out there and to just take it from him. He's the number one contender. He's the next in line for his title shot. I'm going out there to steal it. I'm going out to rob this man.”
Hooker and Tsarukyan have made no secret of their dislike for each other in the lead-up to this weekend’s event. And while social media beefs are often manufactured to help sell fights, Hooker insists his dislike for the Armenian contender is very real.
“That's why I called him out,” Hooker smiled. “That's why I pursued this fight. I've been getting asked all week. They're like, ‘you know, how did you feel when this fight came across your desk?’ It's like, bro…I flew to UFC Perth and I nagged Hunter Campbell and I nagged Sean Shelby to give me this fight.
“I said, 'Please, let me slap the shit out of this man.' I said, 'I know you guys don't like him either.' I said, 'then let me get him out of the way.' I said, 'I got rid of Gamrot.' I said, 'now let me get rid of Armand and give me a damn title shot.'”
