There aren't many active UFC fighters more popular than Dan 'The Hangman' Hooker, whose recent career resurgence remains one of the feel good stories of recent times in MMA.
After a turbulent few years, the popular Kiwi is back where he belongs at the upper end of the lightweight division, although he recently admitted one mistake meant he 'sold his title shot for cash'.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker admits he sold 'his title shot' for money
Between 2018 and 2021, Dan “The Hangman” Hooker fought Gilbert Burns, Paul Felder, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev – a truly insane resume for such a short time.
Yet it is that final fight of 2021 that remains a sore spot for the Kiwi, who opted to face the future lightweight champion in Abu Dhabi despite being shortlisted for the next title contender.
“It's just different stages of your career, like at that stage of my career I just wanted money,” Hooker admitted in an interview with David Adesanya, noting that the promotion 'preceded' his desire for a bigger wallet – at the expense of his chance at gold.
“They took advantage of that and I sold my title shot. In the end it came down to that… I just wanted money, then I got money, and I thought, 'Well, this isn't cool, I want a world title' – [and] At the end of the day you can't trade money for a world title.”
Hooker, who has been a UFC fighter for over 10 years, explained how the mindset of top fighters changes, and must change, as their careers progress; or risk losing the same opportunities he did.
“It's like you have to constantly set new goals for yourself… Early on in your career you say, 'I want to be a UFC fighter,' and then you become a UFC fighter and you're like, 'Well, this isn't like that.' . it, I want to be a ranked UFC fighter” – and then you get ranked, but you want more.
“You say, 'I want to be a Main Event fighter,' and then you win a Main Event – you say, 'Well, this is bullshit too, I want something else'… Once you achieve a goal, you must have [another one].”
Hooker smiled wryly as he acknowledged that “chasing the goal is the most fun” – so what kind of 'fun' does Dan Hooker have planned for 2025?
Dan Hooker believes he is the front runner for Conor McGregor's return to the UFC
After his fantastic victory over Mateusz Gamrot in August and his jump in the rankings to #6, Hooker's next fight “has to be something big,” especially considering he is one of the few active lightweights on a winning streak.
“All the guys in the Top Five before me have had losses and when you have a winning streak, fights become available… The only names I have heard from the UFC are all up there so I have to look back in this day and age that would be foolish are.
“You have to think this is some kind of title, whether it's BMF or [undisputed],” Hooker teased, although he has also recently noted that he is also the “front runner” as Conor McGregor's returning opponent.
Speaking to The New Zealand Herald a few days earlier, Hooker said: “I'm very aware that Conor has been made aware of the situation he found himself in”, adding that “at this point I'm probably would be the leader.
“It doesn't really make any sense for him to fight Michael Chandler. The man has suffered a number of losses and is still a dangerous, athletic heavy puncher. Plus, Conor is working through a lot of things behind the scenes right now.
“To think that he would fight a man with whom he has genuine animosity at the moment and all your dirty laundry will be in the headlines for an entire camp – that's probably not the case.”
Hooker and McGregor share some mutual friends, including The Mac Life's Oscar Willis, with the Kiwi suggesting he “isn't a fighter”. [who] would go out of my way to air someone's dirty laundry.”
Who would you like to see Hooker face next, would you take a BMF title fight against Max Holloway, or the purse that comes with the long-awaited return of Notorious?
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