Hooker won the fight by a controversial split decision. Out of 17 media members, 12 scored it for Felder, and only 4 for Hooker. This fight earned him a Fight of the Night award. Hooker faced returning UFC title challenger Dustin Poirier on 27 June 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Michael Chandler reacts after his knockout victory over Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu.

© Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY SportsHooker

Dan Hooker will welcome former Bellator MMA Lightweight champion, Michael Chandler, to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon when the two men collide in the co-main event of UFC 257 on Jan. 23, 2021 on “Fight Island.”

For Hooker, passing on the chance to upset a man who is likely already in title contention was something he was not willing to do since it would allow him the opportunity to sneak himself back into the championship mix.

And he is more than happy to break the promotion’s “new toy” while he’s at it.

“The danger lies in getting to the top five. If you were to put him against anyone else who’s come up in the UFC, like top-50, then a top-30, then a top-20, then a top-15 then his chances of losing skyrocket exponentially. So the quicker they can get him to a title, the quicker they could market and sell him,” said Hooker during a recent interview with MMA Fighting.

“So to me, you’re gonna give me the new toy? I’m gonna break the new toy real quick. They invested a whole lot of money to get this guy out of his contract and get him over to the UFC and they’re gonna throw him in with me who’s like a bad stylistic matchup and I’m gonna break the toy in five minutes. I can’t say I feel sorry for them (laughs).”

Hooker is 3-1 in his last four fights inside the Octagon and was last seen losing to Dustin Poirier in a “Fight of the Year” candidate this past June. Currently ranked No. 6 on UFC official rankings, “The Hangman” could upset the balance of the division while inserting himself in the title picture.

Chandler, meanwhile, is coming in with two straight wins, winning five of his last six fights for Bellator before jumping ship. Anyone think he’ll be in for a rude awakening against Hooker?

Dan Hooker Record: 20-10-0

The Hangman

  • Height: 6' 0'
  • Weight: 155 lbs.
  • Reach: 75'
  • STANCE: Switch
  • DOB: Feb 13, 1990
Career statistics:
  • SLpM: 4.95
  • Str. Acc.: 48%
  • SApM: 4.92
  • Str. Def: 51%
  • TD Avg.: 0.72
  • TD Acc.: 34%
  • TD Def.: 79%
  • Sub. Avg.: 0.3

SLpM - Significant Strikes Landed per Minute

Str. Acc. - Significant Striking Accuracy

SApM - Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute

Str. Def. - Significant Strike Defence (the % of opponents strikes that did not land)

Hooker

TD Avg. - Average Takedowns Landed per 15 minutes

Hooker Ufc

Hooker Ufc

TD Acc. - Takedown Accuracy

Hooker Ufc Record

TD Def. - Takedown Defense (the % of opponents TD attempts that did not land)

Tj Hooker Ufc

Sub. Avg. - Average Submissions Attempted per 15 minutes

Hooker Ufc Fighter

Hooker
W/L Fighter Kd Str Td Sub Event Method Round Time

0

1

8

17

0

0

0

0

Jan. 23, 2021

KO/TKO

Punch

1

2:30

0

0

155

153

4

1

0

4

Jun. 27, 2020

U-DEC

5

5:00

0

0

122

110

1

0

0

0

Feb. 22, 2020

S-DEC

5

5:00

1

0

98

37

0

0

0

0

Oct. 05, 2019

U-DEC

3

5:00

1

0

22

7

0

0

0

0

Jul. 20, 2019

KO/TKO

Punch

1

2:33

0

1

81

126

0

0

0

0

Dec. 15, 2018

KO/TKO

Punches

3

2:19

2

0

22

13

0

0

1

0

Jul. 07, 2018

KO/TKO

Punches

1

2:28

1

0

24

10

0

1

0

0

Apr. 21, 2018

KO/TKO

Knee

1

3:00

0

0

17

24

2

0

1

0

Dec. 30, 2017

SUB

Guillotine Choke

3

0:42

1

0

69

38

0

0

0

0

Jun. 10, 2017

KO/TKO

Knee

2

3:02

0

0

47

59

0

4

0

4

Nov. 26, 2016

U-DEC

3

5:00

0

0

5

4

0

0

1

0

Mar. 19, 2016

SUB

Guillotine Choke

1

1:24

0

0

19

52

1

2

0

0

Oct. 03, 2015

U-DEC

3

5:00

1

0

21

32

0

2

0

0

May. 09, 2015

KO/TKO

Kick

2

4:13

0

0

99

132

0

3

0

0

Sep. 20, 2014

U-DEC

3

5:00

0

0

12

1

0

0

0

3

Jun. 28, 2014

KO/TKO

Elbows

1

3:34