Dan Hooker is eager to fight Arman Tsarukyan upon his return from hand surgery, as he believes no one else is willing to face Tsarukyan, and a victory could position him as a title contender.
Dan Hooker is calling out Arman Tsarukyan for a fight, mainly because others seem to dodge it. "The Hangman" is recovering from hand surgery, but he’s eyeing Tsarukyan as a potential opponent upon his return. This matchup could pave the way for a title shot against Ilia Topuria.
In a chat with Submission Radio, Hooker shared his thoughts on the lightweight division’s future. He speculates that Max Holloway might have one more fight before a rematch with Topuria, while Islam Makhachev is moving to welterweight. Hooker believes Gaethje will face Topuria, leaving Holloway to possibly fight Oliveira. As for Tsarukyan, Hooker sees himself as the logical opponent.
Hooker mentioned that Tsarukyan turned down Mateusz Gamrot, who’s ranked just above him. He describes Tsarukyan as a "walking bag of sand," acknowledging his skills but noting that big names avoid him. With Oliveira already having fought Tsarukyan, Hooker feels it’s his turn to step up.
Both Hooker and Tsarukyan are on winning streaks, but their contender status is uncertain. Hooker won a split decision against Gamrot, while Tsarukyan was sidelined by a back injury before a title shot with Makhachev. Hooker insists his interest in fighting Tsarukyan isn’t personal but purely competitive.
Hooker respects Tsarukyan’s ability to win fights, even if he’s not the most dangerous opponent. He believes Tsarukyan is the best at securing victories, which gives others a reason to avoid him. Hooker, however, wants to face the best, and he sees Tsarukyan as that challenge.
Despite the respect, Hooker hasn’t shied away from taking shots at Tsarukyan on social media. He recently called out both Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan, with a less-than-polite jab at the latter. Hooker explained that this was in response to Tsarukyan’s previous comments.
Hooker expressed interest in fighting on a New York card, though he was initially keen on UFC Perth. The timing for Perth was tight, considering his hand recovery, but he was willing to push through for the fans. New York, however, offers more time to prepare and heal.
In the end, Hooker seems ready to face Tsarukyan, believing he’s the only one willing to take on the challenge. Who else is going to step up?