Dan Hooker is a glorified journeyman.

[Deleted member 582760]

Being an exciting fighter doesn't mean you're particularly good. I've never seen a large portion of fans get so excited about a guy with such a thin resume. The guy is literally 20-10 right now. His best wins are over washed up gatekeepers like Jim Miller and Ross Pearson or literal bums like James Vick. The guy barely squeaks by Felder and now suddenly he's a 'clear favourite' over a legit high-level veteran like Michael Chandler?

Some of you see a fighter with a funny accent drop a few soundbites and suddenly the are a contender.

Dan had nothing for Chandler and it showed. There are levels to this.

I can see him beating Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira. I'm just not sure about Conor or Khabib though.

 

[Jose Beehive]

Maybe should try Welterweight or go to Bellator or something.

 

[Mila is My World]

I can see him beating Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira. I'm just not sure about Conor or Khabib though.

Justin no way, slugging it out with Gaethje with zero defense is asking for a sleeping pill. Charles possible but I doubt it, he's looked good lately.

Hooker is just a mid level fighter, people need to stop popping boners over his kiwi accent soundbites and look at his damn resume.

 

[GueseGuy]

Maybe should try Welterweight or go to Bellator or something.

Why would he go to Bellator? Look at how he fared against Chandler I think if anything he should stay in UFC he can have success there like he has been?

 

[Mila is My World]

Maybe should try Welterweight or go to Bellator or something.

I think he's fine as just a barely-gatekeeper. He'll get the odd bonus and ride his career out into his late 30s until he becomes a Ross Pearson type.

Not everyone has to be the best, but I wish the fanbase would stop pretending like he's this hot contender.

 

[DrTrouble]

The answer is yes or maybe somewhere between journeyman and gatekeeper. So yeah glorified gatekeeper sounds about right.

 

[Jose Beehive]

Why would he go to Bellator? Look at how he fared against Chandler I think if anything he should stay in UFC he can have success there like he has been?

Why not, seems demotivated and seems to have hit his peak at LW imo. Dudes 20 and 10 now , I think a change of scenery be it division or promotion might inject something he's lacking.

 

[Deleted member 582760]

Justin no way, slugging it out with Gaethje with zero defense is asking for a sleeping pill. Charles possible but I doubt it, he's looked good lately.

Hooker is just a mid level fighter, people need to stop popping boners over his kiwi accent soundbites and look at his damn resume.

I think Hooker has a better stand up game than Justin. If Justin goes for the leg kick, I think he's going to get countered even worse than in his fight against Dustin. I actually don't think the fight will go beyond two rounds.

 

[TITS]

Being an exciting fighter doesn't mean you're particularly good. I've never seen a large portion of fans get so excited about a guy with such a thin resume. The guy is literally 20-10 right now. His best wins are over washed up gatekeepers like Jim Miller and Ross Pearson or literal bums like James Vick. The guy barely squeaks by Felder and now suddenly he's a 'clear favourite' over a legit high-level veteran like Michael Chandler?

Some of you see a fighter with a funny accent drop a few soundbites and suddenly the are a contender.

Dan had nothing for Chandler and it showed. There are levels to this.

Uh...I haven't had a chance to read the replies yet, but did you forget about Dan starching Burns (who's fighting for the WW title in a few weeks)?

Is that a legit enough victory for you?

 

[Mongoosemk12]

Honestly I think a lot of people are underestimating Chandler and his fight IQ. He threw that jab to the body to get Hooker thinking he was setting up a takedown. Threw it almost three times in a row. Instead of the takedown he threw a right cross, while Hooker had his hands down preparing to get under hooks to defend. Open chin. Chandler is legit and has been legit.

It wasn't even good fight IQ honestly, that shit was blatantly obvious that he was looking to lower the guard to come over the top via threat of the takedown. I still think Hooker is a decent striker and has promise, but he clearly was scared of the takedown and lowering his guard was a huge mistake. That was like striking 101, go to the body to setup the head. The level change complicates things, but again, everyone knows Chandler has a good right hand whether it is an overhand right or a cross. He wanted to make a big impression, laying on someone isn't gonna do that. Hooker's team failed him, his guard was super low the entire fighter and no one said anything.

 

[LoneStalker]

Hooker was in TWO the best fights of 2020 (win against Felder, defeat against Poirier).
I don´t really like him, but the dude is a stud.
The LW division is a fucking shark tank now, and the competition is extremely high. But calling Hooker a journeyman is ridiculous.

 

[GueseGuy]

Why not, seems demotivated and seems to have hit his peak at LW imo. Dudes 20 and 10 now , I think a change of scenery be it division or promotion might inject something he's lacking.

Idk after what Chandler did to him I’d stay away from Bellator tbh. Looks like they’ve got killers over there.

 

[Mila is My World]

Uh...I have

n't had a chance to read the replies yet, but did you forget about Dan starching Burns (who's fighting for the WW title in a few weeks)?

Is that a legit enough victory for you?

Cat Zingano finished Amanda Nunes. What's your point?

 

[Lychrel]

The only explanation I can come up with is Hooker was terrified of the possibility of Chandler's wrestling. He was a deer in headlights until he got sparked. Weird shit.

 

[Mila is My World]

Hooker was in TWO the best fights of 2020 (win against Felder, defeat against Poirier).
I don´t really like him, but the dude is a stud.
The LW division is a fucking shark tank now, and the competition is extremely high. But calling Hooker a journeyman is ridiculous.

Felder is a BUM and that decision was suspect AF.

Poirier is not a world beater, he's a smart volume striker who takes damage. Hooker is a brawler with a decent chin, it was a good match up for hooker and he lost. Ya'll are really hyping a 20-10 journeyman based on looking good in a loss.

 

[Mila is My World]

The only explanation I can come up with is Hooker was terrified of the possibility of Chandler's wrestling. He was a deer in headlights until he got sparked. Weird shit.

Here's a good explanation.

Michael Chandler is a high lever fighter, Dan Hooker isn't.

Mystery solved.

 

[TITS]

Cat Zingano finished Amanda Nunes. What's your point?

What, in 2013? Hooker beat Burns 2 years ago then obliterated Iaquinta.

 

[Jose Beehive]

Idk after what Chandler did to him I’d stay away from Bellator tbh. Looks like they’ve got killers over there.

Maybe, Benson Henderson was Chandler's last win there, I'm sure he could do pretty well there..Other than Pitbull He'd probably fair well against most.

 

[LoneStalker]

Felder is a BUM and that decision was suspect AF.

Poirier is not a world beater, he's a smart volume striker who takes damage. Hooker is a brawler with a decent chin, it was a good match up for hooker and he lost. Ya'll are really hyping a 20-10 journeyman based on looking good in a loss.

Felder was semiretired and training for a ironman and took the fight on less than a week notice.
Poirier just KTFO McGregor, and Hooker almost took him out in the second round.
What the hell are you talking about?

 

[Jose Beehive]

I think he's fine as just a barely-gatekeeper. He'll get the odd bonus and ride his career out into his late 30s until he becomes a Ross Pearson type.

Not everyone has to be the best, but I wish the fanbase would stop pretending like he's this hot contender.

Didn't seem too happy to take that L.. Tough times ahead what ever he does though.