Media Dan Hooker: Islam Makhachev 'not Superman', will get dominated

[Ackmed]

Just listened to the interview while taking this pup for a walk



I didn't catch him saying he'll "dominate" Islam but might have missed it.

It sounds like there's mutual respect...Dan noted that Islam himself hasn't been talking big so in turn Dan hasn't either.

He seems excited at being able to explore the US together with his family in a few weeks, with no rush to return to New Zealand. That was nice to hear. Sounded like someone who finds out their employer is relocating them and gets to travel abroad with their family.

 

[dildos]

This fight would be way more interesting to me if Hooker had a normal training camp

The dude went through hell to make it to his last fight, now he's doing a makeshift 3 week camp in America, then flying to Abu Dhabi and making weight again... also said he hadn't wrestled in ages before this camp

Islam has EVERY advantage possible, if he wins it doesn't really mean that much imo

tbh i want a rematch if hooker loses just for these points. it is only fair. 3 week vs 3.5 months to prepare is crazy. just shows what a boss hooker is for taking this fight.

 

[djason1988]

Islam is good, but people gotta stop seeing him as Khabib v2. He's nowhere near the level of talent or athlete that Khabib was. Hooker is a solid test, albeit i feel his ranking is a little inflated atm.

 

[dildos]

Lol ya hooker the world beater
<puh-lease75>

hooker is better than the whole of islams resume.

 

[TerrorTimmy]

I like Hooker. But Islam wrecks him imo

 

[Ackmed]

hooker is better than the whole of islams resume.

I think Arman is a tougher win than Hooker is

 

[jsbx45]

Hooker has a bright attitude coming into this fight. Don't think it will be as sunny after the fight, but appreciate him stepping up for this (major) challenge. Hooker is likely to be dominated, but we said the same about Holly Holm too no?

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Somehow Islam is going to get a title shot without fighting Dariush, Chandler, Gaethje or Porier but somehow got like 3 fights with RDA made.

Hopefully Hooker has some plan to spike Islam's drug test and get the fight overturned from a L to a NC and then he acts like he beat Islam and is deserving of a TS while Islam sits suspended.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Yeah, most CK dudes have good TDD. That being said, Islam is on a different level.

He's been looking more and more human as the challenger level has increased Moises and Tsarukyan both defended many of Islams attempts and even succeeded in taking him down. The grappling exchanges looked more competitive and there wasn't utter domination. I respect Dober but hes in his mid thirties and has always been just a banger, Islam did what everyone shoulda expected there.

Hooker doesn't seem like the guy to beat Islam but once he starts fighting the elite of the division Islam fanboys may be in store for a surprise. Or...Islam wins, Poirier don't have great takedown defense and I fancy Poirier to beat Oliveira.

 

[Safton]

I mean I absolutely favor Islam for obvious reasons given how talented he is and the stylistic matchup, but if Hooker pulls something off under the circumstances he's a legend and I don't even particularly like the guy. I think any talk of flukes or "lucky shots" should be dismissed in that case, too... but that's putting the cart before the horse considering the challenge in front of Dan. There's a good chance he gets outgrappled and loses a clear Decision or gets submitted.

 

[MeatWagon06]

I see you already drafted excuses to quote after UFC 267 lol

It’s facts. You’d be bitching and whining if Islam was going in under these conditions. Especially if he lost.

 

[Mesos]

We will see won't we. This will be Islam's biggest test. If he destroys Hooker ... he most likely is Khabib 2.0.

Islams already lost in the UFC and has been knocked out. He aint no Khabib 2.0 lol he wishes

 

[Ackmed]

It’s facts. You’d be bitching and whining if Islam was going in under these conditions. Especially if he lost.

For Islam its a short notice stylistic change in opponent.

Dan's circumstances are a bit tougher but they aren't night and day apart either

 

[dildos]

I think Arman is a tougher win than Hooker is

I’m sure you do.

would you agree that hooker has beaten better fighters than Islam has? Burns is a way better win then anyone Islam has faced, and if you wanna compare with armans record it goes the same. Felder maybe too but that is debateable, Burns for sure isn’t.

 

[First Day UFC Intern]

Cliffs

- training with one of his wrestling coaches currently at Syndicate MMA
- taking advantage of the performance institute in Vegas for strength and conditioning, nutrition etc
- wrestling nonstop this camp to prepare for Islam, feels confident
- likes the narrative that Islam will dominate him, "likes the way the storyline is playing out"
- says everyone thinks he's gonna get smashed, but "he knows he's not"
- feels would be close to title shot with a win
- feels like Islam's plan is to "hold me down for 2 rounds"
- doesn't think Islam is a submission specialist
- think Javier Mendez, Ali Abdelaziz are trying to puff Islam up to make him feel indestructible
- "he puts his pants on like I puts my pants on in the morning, he ain't Superman"

In my view Hooker shouldn't have more defensive-wrestling camp.

Should go all-out striking, defensive mindset will give him less chance and output / on the backseat much of the time

 

[TempleoftheDog]

The odds are against him, but Id love to see him lay out Islam. That would be talked about for years.

 

[PrepareForGlory]

We'll he's right. No one is "scared" of Islam. Islam isn't going to make Hooker look like he was in a car crash like after the Porier fight.

Gaethje, Chandler, Porier are all "scarier" guys if you're talking about your physical health.

Islam will wrestle you, grind you, and submit you most likely. But you could fight again in two months if you want.

With that said, I hope this fight is competitive. It's a great matchup but Islam probably decisions him 30-27. His style is built to bank rounds.

 

[Juan Bombadil]

Dan can 100% put Islam to sleep

 

[snugglecakes]

I’m gonna hold him to his word

 

[Ackmed]

I’m sure you do.

would you agree that hooker has beaten better fighters than Islam has? Burns is a way better win then anyone Islam has faced, and if you wanna compare with armans record it goes the same. Felder maybe too but that is debateable, Burns for sure isn’t.

Yeah Dan's beaten better competition but he's also lost a lot more than Islam has, both rounds and fights. Either way their past opponents will be irrelevant really soon because the fight itself will answer who is the better fighter in less than 2 weeks.