The return to featherweight for Dan Hooker did not go his way and he will now be moving back up to lightweight.
Hooker dropped back down to 145lbs to face Allen at UFC London and suffered a first-round TKO loss. It was another disappointing loss for the Kiwi and now Hooker has announced he will be moving back up to lightweight for his next fight.
.@danthehangman announces return to 155:
"Fuck no, I couldn't make 145 if I wanted to … I'm closer to middleweight than I am to featherweight"
🎥: https://t.co/lBRepB2n8L pic.twitter.com/qur9XzN19Q
— Submission Radio (@SubmissionRadio) May 2, 2022
“Oh, f*** no, I couldn’t make featherweight if I wanted to. I’m closer to middleweight than I am to featherweight,” Hooker said to Submission Radio.
“I felt like I could’ve stayed at 145, but obviously a lot of sacrifice goes into that. But off of the result of the last fight, I feel like I’m in the exact same position at both weight classes. So why not? Why would I make the extra sacrifice? The extra sacrifice was to get me back in the same position that I was in. But if I’m in the exact same position (as I’m in at lightweight), I’d rather be in the exact same position and eating, and having a slice of cake every now and then. Put a fork in it, bud, I’m out of the conversation (at featherweight).”
With Dan Hooker moving back up to lightweight, it’s uncertain who he will fight. He still is ranked in the weight class and remains a big name in the sport so will still likely get a big name. With that, Hooker says he wants to get right back in the mix at 155lbs.
“It’ll be (against) whoever it’s going to be. Obviously, I have my inklings, but it’ll be like all those other situations. You run back and you look at who I’ve fought, you just look at the division and ask yourself, ‘Who don’t people want to fight?’ That’s who I’ll probably end up fighting. Who’s getting turned down left right and center? That’s who I’ll fight next.”
“So, you can take a look at the division, ask yourself who doesn’t anyone want to fight, that’s the guy. I can get back in the mix, I can get back in the mix in a heartbeat. You can’t count a dog like me out of the game. That’s just not how it works.”
