Dan Hooker has revealed the actual cause why he begged UFC CEO Dana White for the Arman Tsarukyan match. Hooker was scheduled to combat Justin Gaethje earlier this yr; nonetheless, a hand damage compelled him out of the bout.
The Hangman’ was out of motion for a number of months, and after he was cleared to combat, the promotion introduced the UFC Qatar headliner between Tsarukyan and Hooker, which can go down this weekend.
In a current sit-down with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, Hooker revealed why he wished to combat the No. 1-ranked UFC light-weight contender. Hooker believes Tsarukyan is the trail to the title:
“, Dana has come out and stated it’s a primary contender combat. He’s [Arman] the primary contender that wants a win within the division, and that’s why I chased this combat, and I requested for this combat, and I nagged the UFC to provide me this combat—as a result of I knew nobody between myself and Arman Tsarukyan would wish to combat Arman… I knew that with a win over Tsarukyan, I might get to leap the queue. I get to leap from exterior the highest 5 to the primary contender within the division. So yeah, thrilling occasions for positive.”
Take a look at Dan Hooker’s feedback beneath (3:21):
As per the up to date UFC rankings, Hooker presently holds the quantity six spot on the light-weight chart. A win over Tsarukyan might warrant him a title shot subsequent. Nevertheless, as per sources, Gaethje is subsequent in line to problem champion Ilia Topuria for the 155-pound championship. Gaethje has stated that if he doesn’t get a title shot, he’ll retire.
Dan Hooker discusses why he finds battling Arman Tsarukyan so ‘thrilling’
In a current interview with Sky Sport NZ, forward of UFC Qatar, Dan Hooker defined how the Arman Tsarukyan bout thrills him as a result of everybody thinks the Armenian is lots higher than him. Due to this fact, after defeating ‘Ahalkalakets’ this weekend, he hopes to disprove everybody:
“This combat excites me as a result of they really feel like he’s lots higher than I’m. That’s why this combat excites me a lot. It’s like something good that I do. He’s going to begin to seem like extra of an fool. He was presupposed to be this tremendous freak athlete, title contender, the man to beat Ilia Topuria. That is his story, and now he’s dropping to Dan Hooker, the bloke from New Zealand who’s misplaced a 3rd of his fights.”
Take a look at Dan Hooker’s feedback beneath (40:05):
