Dan Hooker believes a win over Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 puts him into title conversation
Dan Hooker thinks he can earn a title shot with a win over Islam Makhachev at UFC 267.
Hooker is stepping up on short notice after just fighting and beating Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 at the end of September. After the win, he was offered a fight against Makhachev who was without an opponent so he stepped up because he says with a win, he could very well be fighting for UFC gold next time out.
“Without a doubt, (with a win), you put yourself in that title picture. You’re like one in a two-man conversation. It’s here after this fight and then it’s the (Justin) Gaethje-(Michael) Chandler winner,” Hooker said on Wednesday at the UFC Apex in a news conference. “It’s like, how the title fight plays out, it’s like, well, if Oliveira wins and Chandler wins then do we really want to see that again? A lot of different things can happen. But yeah, you’re one of two guys that could get a title shot from this. Of course, it’s a very real possibility.”
Dan Hooker is a sizeable underdog on the card and many expect Islam Makhachev to out grapple him and control him on the ground. Yet, Hooker is confident in his skillset and he knows eyes are already on the fight, so he says he doesn’t need any more of a push for this fight.
“The fight is sold. The fight has a storyline. The fight doesn’t need anything added to the storyline,” Hooker said. “Nothing has come out of his mouth. He ain’t said a word like this. People around him are saying things. But I’m not going to argue with them. I’m fighting that guy. I’m not fighting that guy over there or that guy in the corner. He doesn’t say nothing, so I don’t feel like I’ve got to say anything.”
