Dan Hooker provokes Islam Makhachev: 'He's not like Khabib, he just copied his homework'

D. Hooker (photo) provoked I. Makhachev. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Last Saturday (17), Islam makhachev showed why he is one of the most talked about lightweights (up to 70,3 kg) today and completely dominated Thiago Moses, submitting the Brazilian in the fourth round of the main fight of the UFC Las Vegas 31. Mastery of Russian impressed a lot of people, but not everyone.

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In an interview with Submission Radio, Dan Hooker, ranked eighth in the UFC lightweight rankings, assured that he was not impressed by Makhachev's performance. The two fighters got involved in an argument last year, when the Russian claimed that Hooker refused to face him at an event held in New Zealand in 2020.

“I watched the fight at double speed, I got bored. When the event in Auckland was approaching, I already knew that I would face Paul felder, but then Islam started to get involved. I can say that I don't regret not facing Makhachev and fighting a five-round war against Paul felder in my home town. Like I said, I got bored watching last Saturday's fight, so I couldn't imagine watching it live in my hometown. I think there would be a protest after the fight,” Hooker said.

At the press conference of UFC Las Vegas 31, Islam makhachev, which is seen by Khabib Nurmagomedov as his successor in the category, he stated that he wants to be like the former champion. Dan Hooker, however, does not believe this is possible.

“He keeps saying that everyone is afraid to face him, that the entire division is in shock. Brother, you are just copying your classmate's homework. He's on a good run at the moment, but he's been knocked out in the UFC before. So him copying Khabib's homework and saying all this nonsense while he was already in the Octagon, it doesn't have the same effect as when an undefeated fighter speaks”, provoked the New Zealander.

In the week leading up to the UFC Las Vegas 31, Islam makhachev even stated that a fight against Dan Hooker at the current moment it would not add anything to his objective of competing for the lightweight title. The New Zealander, however, found the statement ironic considering the next opponent in the Russian's sights.

"It is funny. I don't really care, I don't take it seriously. But if you think about it, his reason for not facing me is that I lost my last two fights. Then he goes and challenges Tony Ferguson, who lost three in a row. It makes as much sense as c**** in a swimming pool”, concluded Hooker.

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