Arnold Allen “ready for anything now” after TKOing Dan Hooker at UFC London, says Dana White
Top featherweight contender Arnold Allen is “ready for anything now” after TKOing Dan Hooker at UFC London, says UFC president Dana White.
Allen entered the fight with Hooker on an eight-fight win streak inside the Octagon, but Hooker still represented arguably the toughest fight of his UFC career to date. That’s why the odds were so close, with the bookies listing the fight as a near Pick ’em the sportsbooks. But despite the near-even odds in the fight, Allen looked like he should have been a massive favorite. As soon as the bell rang for the first round, Allen started landing hard punches all over Hooker’s body and read, and at just 2:33 seconds in the first round, the referee was forced to call a stop to the fight due to TKO.
For Allen, this was the biggest win of his MMA career, and it’s the type of win that should help push him closer to the top-five in the UFC featherweight division. Indeed, following the win over Hooker, Allen took the microphone and issued a callout to top-five ranked Calvin Kattar.
We do not know yet who the UFC will match Allen up against next, but whoever it is, it’s going to be someone who is highly ranked. Speaking to the media following UFC London, the company president White was asked who Allen will fight next, and White admitted he could fight anyone.
“Who he just beat tonight and the way that he beat him, he got in there and went right to war with Hooker. Stood right in the pocket, didn’t back down, and literally destroyed him, man. It’s unbelievable. He’s ready for anything now. Tonight we found out where that kid’s really at. He’s ready, White said of Allen.
Allen entered the fight as the No. 7 ranked featherweight, while Kattar is ranked at No. 5, so the fight makes sense, as do fights against Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez, and Josh Emmett.
What do you think is next for Arnold Allen after knocking out Dan Hooker at UFC London?
