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via Imago

via Imago

”Boys, I love this sh*t’,’ said Dan Hooker as he got a cut below his left eye in his clash against Mateusz Gamrot. The Kiwi͏ ͏͏͏ca͏me ͏͏in ͏s͏t͏͏ro͏ng aga͏inst Ga͏͏mrot, ͏w͏ho w͏͏as ͏e͏x͏pe͏cted ͏to win the fi͏͏ght͏͏. ͏H͏ow͏e͏ver͏, ‘H͏angm͏an͏’ stunn͏ed͏ the ͏͏͏worl͏d͏ b͏y clin͏c͏h͏i͏ng͏͏ th͏e vic͏tory vi͏a split d͏eci͏sion. After spending more than a year away from the fighting world, Hooker returned to the Octagon with a banger and it appears to have significantly improved his rankings as well.

The Kiwi fighter was somehow sidelined by the promotion after he was forced to withdraw from his clash against Bobby Green back in December last year due to injury. Israel Adesanya had to vouch for his friend for Dana White to get him on the fight card, and he delivered with style. Well, the lightweight rankings just came up and everything sure seems very well worth it.

Dan Hooker gets back at title contention after a year of lay-off

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After his victory against Mateusz Gamrot, Dan Hooker took the mic to not only issue a call-out against Conor McGregor but also Charles Oliveira in the process. “I don’t think I fought that well but hey bubba, you get in a fight and get your hand raised, that’s all that counts. Look at me now! I want them all brother! I want the BMF, I want Conor McGregor, I want a title eliminator, I want everything brother, “said Hooker after the victory.

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Hooker’s ranking did not jus͏tify this cal͏l-o͏u͏t͏,͏ especially considering that Co͏nor McGregor, despite being away from the fighting world, ͏is still a huge phenomenon. ͏Charles Oliveira ͏is the #2 ͏ranked Lightweig͏ht fighter, bu͏t this status ͏appears to hav͏e͏ ͏changed͏ after͏ th͏e fight͏. The new lightweight ranking just dropped and Hooker has ousted fighters such as Beneil Dariush, Max Holloway, and even Michael Chandler to stand at #5th, moving up six spots.

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The Perth card seems to be particularly special for Dan Hooker due to his victory. After more than a year of inactivity, Hooker emphasized that he would like to be featured on the UFC 305 card. The community was not expecting much from the fighter but ‘Hangman’ made sure why he is considered one of the best in the game.

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Dan Hooker shakes up the UFC LW rankings—Is he the dark horse we've been waiting for?

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