When veteran lightweight contender Dan Hooker attempted to explain his consistency as a UFC action star, he used self-deprecatory humor.
“My mum says, ‘You’ve got to be tough or you’ve got to be dumb. [And] you’re a little bit of both,'” Hooker told on Tuesday. “So, it’s a perfect recipe for success in this sport.”
In just two weeks, he will turn 36. In the UFC over the last decade, he has ripped off win streaks of at least three fights. He has also shaken off two fight losing streak as well. All along, he built a reputation as one of the most willing entertainers on the UFC roster. He is someone who wants to fight the best fighters and has a noticeable appetite for co-authoring memorable wars. His wars include his five round classis fight with Dustin Poirier in 2020.
He has never shied away from an opportunity when he got the call from his manager for the co-headlining opportunity. Once, he accepted a three-round fight without even knowing the name of his opponent.
For him, this type of attitude is just part of the process that makes for entertaining and fun UFC fights. This is one of the reasons why he was able to shake off high-profile defeats in the past.
“[It’s] because I ain’t got no plan B. I can’t sing, I can’t dance and I don’t want to get a real job,” Hooker said. “Could you imagine Dan Hooker sitting in the office space next to you? I’d hit you over the head with my computer after the second day. It just can’t happen. This is the only place. I’ve painted myself into a corner. I love this sport. I love this lifestyle. What are you going to do? If you beat yourself up over losses, the only person it’s going to impact in the long run is you.
“I can look at myself in the mirror and say that I fought the best and I gave it absolutely everything that I had. You go away, you get better and you come back and try it again.”
He is not hiding his desire to lure Saint Denis into a battle. He also emphasized that his resolve has only reinforced by the fact that UFC CEO Dana White has recently doubled the amount of performance bonuses.
“I’m coming for that fight of the night. And, I reckon, I have a beautiful dance partner,” Hooker said. “I think Saint Denis could be exactly what I come here for and that’s to put on a show for the Australian fans. That’s the thing about it, I’m just being myself. My coaches have tried [to say], ‘Fight smart, stick to the gameplan.’ And I just can’t, I just can’t. The blood starts flowing, I start tasting those punches and I want to give it straight back. It’s just who you are.”
“I feel like I just [need to] bite down on my mouthpiece a little bit harder than he bites down on his,” Hooker said. “It’s time for me to show that I belong in the top of the division and it’s time for me to show that I do have what it takes.”