Dan Hooker wants to avoid a fight with rising star Paddy Pimblett for now claiming he will make him "look silly".
Pimblett will return to action tonight in his fourth outing at UFC 282 against Jared Gordon, with a win likely to push him further into the limelight at 155lb. The Liverpudlian has already faced calls to take on sterner opposition within the top fifteen of the lightweight rankings, after his dominant wins over Kazula Vargas and Jordan Leavitt this year.
One of those potential fringe contenders that have been mentioned is Hooker who recently returned to winning ways with a win over Claudio Puelles last month. However the New Zealander has suggested that Pimblett has fought favourable opposition so far and is not expecting to get the call-up soon.
"Let's all be honest, he's getting taken care of, you know what I mean?," Hooker said when assessing the chances of a future fight with Pimblett during an interview with The Mac Life. "He's not getting tough match-ups just yet. I wouldn't want to fight him just yet. I like him, I like him, I wouldn't want to fight him.
"I'd make him look silly, I don't want to burst the bubble and that's just being honest. Hand on my heart I think I'd do whatever I'd want to that kid. “He’s on a good trajectory, leave him alone. Give him the fights that you’re gonna give him, [I’m] not the fight. I like the kid. Let’s leave him.
"I know he’s talked s*** about me in the past and I’m just like, he can just ... I’m not that easy to rile up. I feel like skill for skill, Gordon beats him in the gym nine times out of 10, but under those lights, pay-per-view, sold out, the people chanting, I feel like Paddy just handles that energy and can direct it at his opponent a lot better. So, I think Paddy wins.”
Will Paddy Pimblett win tonight? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below
Pimblett will make his first pay-per-view appearance this weekend against Gordon, which is likely to draw further anticipation on to his career trajectory once again. UFC president Dana White has big plans for the popular Liverpudlian who has drawn comparisons to UFC superstar Conor McGregor in the early stages of his career.
However the rising star himself is in no rush and is not expecting to be competing for a title for another four years. "I'm in no rush," PImblett explained during a recent episode of Pub Talk. "People want me to start fighting people like Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier now.
"Do you not know how this sport works? You have to climb the rankings before you start fighting the top five.. I'm going to be champ in about 2025-26, I'm in no rush. I'm going to climb my way up the ladder and earn a lot of money while I do so."
