Coach doesn’t believe Dan Hooker’s loss to Michael Chandler is a big deal: ‘One loss doesn’t mean anything’
Eugene Bareman doesn’t think Dan Hooker losing to Michael Chandler ruins his chances at fighting for the lightweight title.
In the co-main event of UFC 257, Hooker was welcoming Chandler to the UFC in a very intriguing bout. Chandler was looking to prove he is a top-five lightweight while the Kiwi was looking to get back into the win column and put himself into the title conversation. However, it did not go his way as he suffered a first-round TKO loss and for Bareman, he believes anyone in the top-15 can beat anyone on any given day.
“Top-15 guys, nothing separates them,” Bareman said on Combat TV. “Like I said, it’s equivalent to a 100-meter sprint. Between No. 1 and No. 10, there’s less than a second difference.
“So it’s not any different in the top-10, top-five of the UFC. You’re separated by nothing. On any particular day, anyone can win, anyone can be champion. It’s just how close it is. That’s just how it is at the top end.”
For Dan Hooker, the loss is no doubt disappointing for him, but according to Bareman, he knows Hooker is still an elite lightweight. The coach expects his pupil to fight a top-10 guy next and rebound with a big win.
“This is the UFC, and in the UFC the best fight the best straight away. There’s no maneuvering and you have to wait five years for Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson Fury. It’s none of that stuff. You get in the UFC, and you fight the best straight away. And for that reason, one loss doesn’t mean anything. In boxing, they put a lot more on that, but this is MMA. You’re forced to fight the best straight away. One loss for Conor, one loss for Dan, it doesn’t mean anything. Just like Conor lost before, just like Dustin lost before, just like Michael Chandler has lost before.”
