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Stephen Foote

Lightweight Dan Hooker is about to make his way to the bright lights of Las Vegas with a clear, two-pronged agenda – support his good mate and training partner Israel Adesanya in his title defence against Yoel Romero at UFC 248, and pick a fight himself.
“The Hangman” is fresh off one of the best performances of his career, beating Paul Felder in a razor-close split decision at a partisan UFC Auckland a fortnight ago.
The win propelled Hooker inside the division’s top five rankings for the first time, rarefied air where no fighter is beyond a call-out, and he already has his sights firmly set on his next target.
Former champion Dustin Poirier shapes as his most likely next opponent and Hooker has already begun planting the seeds on social media.

I got 25 minutes for you https://t.co/1EJhecYzQV
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) February 27, 2020

Hooker asked Poirier in a tweet if he “could see me now?”, to which the American responded “I got 25 minutes for you”, referring to a five-round main event.
“The Diamond” hasn’t fought since he lost his interim lightweight title to undisputed champ Khabib Nurmagomedov in September last year.
UFC: Adesanya ‘doesn’t care’ if he gets booed for 9/11 comment
“It looks like I’m the only option for him, unless he wants to wait around,” Hooker told the Post.
“It looks, from rumours – and rumours are generally true – that [Justin] Gaethje will be getting the [Conor] McGregor fight next, which is a pretty exciting match-up.
“That leaves Poirier with no opponent. I’ve now got a nice high number, which he likes and he’s paying me a bit of attention.”

Hooker plans to pour more fuel on those flames during his trip stateside this weekend, where fellow City Kick-boxing stablemate Adesanya will try to continue his sparkling undefeated run through the middleweight division, this time against Yoel Romero.
And while pundits and fans alike have been sounding warning bells for “The Last Stylebender” against the powerful Cuban wrestler, Hooker shares no such concerns.
“Everyone thinks it’s going to be a tough fight, but I think, for Israel specifically, this is a very easy match-up,” Hooker said.

“I think this is going to look like Derek Brunson all over again,” added Hooker, referring to the American wrestler Adesanya took apart two years ago.
“Honestly, I think this is going to be an ass-whooping and I see why Israel wants the fight.
“It’s going to look like someone very fast and very slick just piecing up someone who looks as though they’re stuck in the mud.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Dan Hooker says he’s ‘the only option’ for Dustin Poirier ‘unless he wants to wait around’

Dustin Poirier during an open workout in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Reuters

Middleweight fighter Yoel Romero, left, of Cuba, poses with fans during open workouts for UFC 248, in Las Vegas on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, of Nigeria, prepares for a UFC 248 open workout, in Las Vegas on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

UFC 248: Israel Adesanya ‘doesn’t care’ if he gets booed for 9/11 comment in Las Vegas

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248. Photo: AFP

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 07: Yoel Romero talks during a press conference for UFC 248 at Toyota Center on February 07, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Nigeria's Israel Adesanya, left, and Brazil's Anderson Silva fight during their middlewesight bout at the UFC 234 event in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

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Zhang Weili at Beijing Airport. Photo: Instagram

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Dan Hooker and Paul Felder pose for a picture together on stretchers. Photo: Instagram

UFC: Paulo Costa slams ‘dirty Kiwi’ and ‘disgusting’ Israel Adesanya after Yoel Romero 9/11 comments

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya talks at a UFC 248 press conference alongside opponent Yoel Romero earlier this month. Photo: AFP

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘The Hangman’ thinks Justin Gaethje is tied up with Conor McGregor – ‘that leaves Poirier with no opponent’
‘I’ve now got a nice high number, which he likes and he’s paying me a bit of attention’



Dan Hooker thinks Justin Gaethje is tied up with Conor McGregor, meaning former UFC interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier must ‘wait around’ unless he fights ‘The Hangman’.


Dustin Poirier

Martial arts