Dan Hooker has just selected Dustin Poirier, a candidate for the “Battle of the Year”, but a few days later he’s already thinking about what’s next.
With Hooker in government-mandated quarantine for two weeks after returning to New Zealand, he has to look at the country’s situation in the lightweight department when considering his options for another fight in 2020.
Miraculously, Hooker has not suffered any major injuries in the fight against Poirier, and although he is in no way falling back, he definitely plans to start again this year. Still, he has a few options and Hooker is not afraid to call his shot.
“If I get out of this quarantine, I’m ready to go back to the gym and mix it on the mats,” said Hooker when he spoke to MMA Fighting. “I know what makes sense. If there’s something 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 for me and Dustin is that Dustin is fighting Tony [Ferguson] To see who will be number 1, I go back and fight Charles Oliveira to really consolidate myself in the top 5 by defeating another top guy. I understand that.”
With seven wins in a row, Oliveira has made waves in the lightweight, but is still behind Hooker in the official UFC ranking. Meanwhile, Ferguson loses to Justin Gaethje in a separate “Battle of the Night” from May.
Hooker admits that Oliveira is the opponent who might make the most sense, but if Poirier takes time out or may be waiting for a title shot, he’ll be happy to take the opportunity to play Ferguson instead.
“Let’s see with Dustin,” said Hooker. “Because he has to watch this fight, Justin [Gaethje] and Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. Let’s say Justin knocks out Khabib. Then of course Gaethje would like to avenge his loss of Poirier. So I don’t think Poirier will come back in and mess it up until the fight between Gaethje and Khabib is out of the way.
“This leaves Tony Ferguson without a dance partner, and if Tony Ferguson wants to get in there and confuse it, I will definitely raise my hand to get in there and compete with Tony Ferguson.”
Before his defeat against Gaethje, Ferguson drove a winning streak with 12 fights in the division and at one point also won the preliminary lightweight title. He is still widely regarded as one of the best 155 pounders in the world, which is why Hooker would enjoy the chance to fight him.
“I think this is a war with five main events,” Hooker said of a possible matchup against Ferguson. “For me, that’s the best scenario for me.
“I will compete again this year. Whether it’s above me or below me, I’m coming back into the octagon. I just want to raise my hand [to volunteer]. ”
Hooker said he won’t call the UFC to ask about another fight until he’s back at the gym after his quarantine ends.
However, if he looks at the calendar, he definitely foresees a return to action in the second half of 2020.
“October-November,” Hooker replied when asked about his schedule for another fight. “I’ll wait until I’m back at the gym to send a message to the UFC, but I posted there that I would definitely be interested in this Tony fight and the fans just jump on it. You react very well. I know how the UFC works.
“If the fans ask for something and it makes sense for the UFC to match this fight, I don’t see too much that stands in the way of booking in the coming months.”
