Dan Hooker has just entered a “Fight of the Year” nominee with Dustin Poirier, but a few days later, he’s already thinking about what’s to come next.
As he sits in a government-ordered quarantine for two weeks after returning to his New Zealand home, Hooker can’t help but look at the lay-out of the ground in the lightweight division when considering his options for another fight in 2020.
Miraculously, Hooker suffered no major injuries in the fight with Poirier, and while he is not rushing in any way, he definitely plans to compete again this year. That being said, he does have a couple of options available to him and Hooker is not afraid to make his decision.
“By the time I get out of this quarantine, I’ll be ready to go back to the gym and start mixing it up on the mats,” said Hooker, speaking to MMA Fighting. “I know what makes sense. If there’s anything about me, I know what the fans want. I understand how this game works and I know what makes sense.
“What makes the most sense to me and Dustin is that Dustin fights Tony [Ferguson] to see who is going to be the number 1 contender and I go back and fight Charles Oliveira to really solidify myself in the top five by beating another major player. I understand that. “
With seven wins in a row, Oliveira has been making waves at lightweight, but still lags behind Hooker in the official UFC ranking. Meanwhile, Ferguson is coming off a loss in his own “Night Fight” against Justin Gaethje in May.
Hooker acknowledges that Oliveira is the opponent that probably makes the most sense to him, but if Poirier takes time off or potentially waits for a title shot, he will gladly accept the opportunity to face Ferguson.
“Let’s see Dustin,” said Hooker. “Because you have to be watching that fight, Justin [Gaethje] and Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. Let’s say Justin knocks out Khabib. Well then obviously Gaethje would love to avenge her loss against Poirier. So I don’t think we’ll see Poirier go back there and mix it up until the Gaethje-Khabib fight is out of the way.
“That leaves Tony Ferguson without a dance partner, and if Tony Ferguson wants to go in there and mix it up, I’m definitely raising my hand to go in there and compete with Tony Ferguson.”
Before his loss to Gaethje, Ferguson was on a streak of 12 straight wins in the division, while claiming the interim lightweight title at one point. He is still widely regarded as one of the world’s top 155 pounds, which is why Hooker would enjoy the opportunity to fight him.
“I think it’s a five-round main event war,” Hooker said of a possible matchup against Ferguson. “For me, that is the best case scenario for me.
“I am going to compete once again this year. Whether you are above or below me, I will return to the octagon. I just want to raise my hand [to volunteer]. “
According to Hooker, he won’t make the call to the UFC to ask for another fight until after he returns to the gym once his quarantine ends.
That said, looking forward on the calendar, it definitely anticipates a return to action in the latter part of 2020.
“October-November,” Hooker replied when asked about his timeline for another fight. “I’ll wait until I get back to the gym to send a message to the UFC, but I said I’d definitely be interested in that Tony fight and the fans are just jumping on it. They are responding very well. I know how the UFC works.
“If the fans are asking for something, and it makes sense for the UFC to match that fight, then I don’t see it getting in the way too much for that thing to be booked in the coming months.”
