Dan Hooker is no longer interested in fighting Rafael Fiziev.
Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) mentioned Fiziev’s name on multiple occasions, but after entering the top five lightweight rankings with a gritty win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 in August, “The Hangman” says that fight doesn’t make sense anymore.
Fiziev (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who’s coming off back-to-back losses, made a pitch to fight Hooker. He hasn’t competed since tearing his ACL in his loss to Gamrot in September 2023.
If me and Mr. Tattoo @danthehangman step into the octagon, I guarantee it’ll be an easy Fight of the Year contender 💥
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) September 6, 2024
“I’m not excited for that fight,” Hooker said in an interview with ENGAGE. “The guy’s coming off two losses. He’s been sitting on the shelf. I called him out for the Perth card. I asked him if he wanted to fight on Perth, but he wasn’t ready.
“Now he’s ready, but that ship has long gone, mate. That fight does not excite me. Obviously, it excites him, but I have absolutely nothing to gain from that fight.”
Hooker is seeking big fights. With Arman Tsarukyan touted as No. 1 contender, only three names ranked above him remain: Charles Oliveira who’s booked to rematch Michael Chandler at UFC 309, Dustin Poirier, and Gaethje.
“I’ll be prepared to fight by the end of the year, so whatever comes,” Hooker said. “But obviously looking up. I’m on a three-fight win streak in the top five. The only other guy in the top five on a win streak is Arman, and he’s fighting for the world title, and that’s kind of set in stone.
“There’s the big three in front of me – obviously huge names in the sport, and they’ll be looking to take something off me. So my eyes are definitely looking forward. Oliveira, Gaethje and Poirier are all fighters that are huge names in the division, all ranked ahead of me and coming off of losses. So to get back on a win streak, they’ll obviously be looking to take the momentum that I’ve built.”
