Dan Hooker News

Harry Kettle - October 9, 2019

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker and former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier have a difference of opinion when it comes to who Hooker should face next inside the Octagon. The Kiwi star was able to defeat Al Iaquinta at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia to establish himself as one to watch at 155 pounds. The next natural step would be for him to face someone higher up in the rankings, but with Raging Al fighting down the rankings to face Hooker, a lot of fans believe Dan should be doing the very same thing.

Tom Taylor - October 8, 2019

The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last weekend’s UFC 243 card, and as expected, main event winner Israel Adesanya has greatly improved his station. In addition to claiming the UFC middleweight throne by defeating Robert Whittaker on the card, Adesanya has zoomed up the pound-for-round rankings. He now holds to No. 8 spot on this prestigious list.

Adam Martin - October 8, 2019

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker put Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje on blast, telling both fighters that one of them will have to fight him next. “The Hangman” shared the message on his Twitter. Here’s what he said.

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

Top-ranked UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has called out Dan Hooker after Hooker’s victory over Al Iaquinta in the co-main event of UFC 243. Makhachev took to Twitter to respond to “The Hangman” calling out Dustin Poirier. Here’s what Makhachev said.

Chris Taylor - October 5, 2019

Dustin Poirier has responded to Dan Hooker’s request for a fight, but says that will have to wait because he is fighting Conor McGregor next. Hooker had defeated Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 243 in what can only be described as a sensational performance from ‘The Hangman’.

Natasha Hooper - October 5, 2019

Tonight at UFC 243 at the Marvel Stadium in Australia, Al Iaquinta faced Dan Hooker in the co-main event. Al ‘Raging’ Iaquinta entered the Octagon against Dan Hooker and looked to recover from his last fight: a unanimous decision loss to Donald Cerrone. The perennial division contenders faced off in the main event of UFC Ottowa. Iaquinta absorbed some early shots and couldn’t adapt his fighting enough to sway the decision victory. Nevertheless, his performance against Cerrone demonstrated his reliance which also made him a tough adversary for Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223. ‘Raging’ Al proved his stock in the lightweight division during his successful wins against Kevin Lee (twice), Ryan Couture and Diego Sanchez.

Chris Taylor - October 5, 2019

A key lightweight bout featuring former title challenger Al Iaquinta taking on Dan Hooker co-headlines tonight’s UFC 243 event in Melbourne, Australia. Al Iaquinta (14-5-1 MMA) was last seen in action at May’s UFC event in Ottawa, where he suffered a unanimous decision setback to Donald Cerrone. Prior to his loss to ‘Cowboy’, ‘Raging Al’ was coming off a decision victory over perennial division contender Kevin Lee.

Cole Shelton - October 2, 2019

Al Iaquinta is looking to return to the win column at UFC 243 when he takes on Dan Hooker. The Long Island-native will be heading to Australia to take on the Kiwi in Hooker. It will no doubt be a very entertaining fight, yet Iaquinta believes he will get his hand raised and dominate the fight for the full 15 minutes. That, or score an early finish.

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:

Adam D Martin - July 21, 2019

After getting beaten down by Edson Barboza in his last fight, Dan Hooker badly needed a win at UFC San Antonio to save face. The New Zealander did just that, as he went into enemy territory against the hometown hero James Vick and came through with arguably the biggest win of his UFC career to date. Hooker needed just 2:33 into the first round to brutally knock out Vick and reestablish himself as a force to be reckoned with in the UFC lightweight division. Hooker didn’t waste any time calling his shot for his next fight when speaking to reporters backstage following the event, calling out Al Iaquinta for a fight.

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.

Christopher Taylor - December 15, 2018

The co-headliner of tonight’s UFC on FOX 31 event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin featured a key lightweight battle between perennial division contenders Dan Hooker and Edson Barboza. Edson Barboza (19-6 MMA) entered tonight’s contest looking to rebound, this after suffering losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kevin Lee in his two 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.