New Zealand fighter Dan Hooker actually wished to compete on the UFC 305 card in Perth, Australia, and he was prepared to surrender the principle occasion spot on one other card to get it.
The No. 11 ranked Hooker faces No. 5 light-weight Mateusz Gamrot when the UFC returns down underneath on August seventeenth. In a brand new interview with Submission Radio, “The Hangman” detailed the issue in getting that battle put collectively.
“The UFC didn’t need me to battle in Perth,” he mentioned. “Nobody wished me. However I used to be like, nah, I’m not passing it up. I haven’t fought on this aspect of the world since UFC Auckland towards Felder. It’s been so lengthy and nothing beats the Anzac crowd. The Aussies, the Kiwis, as soon as all of them get there, nothing beats being on a card together with your brothers.”
“So I simply stood my floor and I simply mentioned ‘Nah.’ They mentioned, ‘You’ll be able to watch for Beneil [Dariush] they usually’ll do a important occasion,’ or, ‘You’ll be able to important occasion the French man’ I’ve by no means heard of. And I used to be identical to, ‘I need to battle in Perth.’”
Did Dan Hooker actually flip down a important occasion at UFC Paris towards Benoit Saint Denis? Benoit Saint Denis is now set to face Renato Moicano within the UFC’s September return to France. Hooker nonetheless did fairly effectively for himself: Gamrot is approach up the rankings and Hooker might discover himself on the high of the division with a powerful win in August.
For “The Hangman,” although, it’s all in regards to the location.
“I used to be on the final occasion, that was in all probability one of many loudest, greatest crowds that I’ve ever skilled,” he mentioned. “So I simply wished to be part of that card.”
UFC 305 additionally includes a middleweight title battle between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, plus a New Zealand vs. Australia battle between Kai Kara France and Steve Erceg.
