Paddy Pimblett sees Dan Hooker as a potential challenge down the line in the future. Hooker is 3-0 since his return to the lightweight division in November 2022. Meanwhile, ‘Baddy’ is on quite a bleed himself, going undefeated under the banner. Hence, the 155-pound Scouser thinks this will be a good tall tale between the two.
Dan Hooker recently outlasted Mateusz Gamrot in a Fight of the Night striker’s effort at UFC 305. Gamrot posed a significant threat in the grappling department. Nevertheless, Hooker overcame him. A stoppage of Claudio Puelles and a nod over Jalin Turner are part of Hooker’s current streak. During a watch-along on his YouTube channel, Paddy Pimblett expressed interest in what he saw.
Fight of the Night so far of what I’ve watched, …Let’s see the decision anyway. I reckon Hooker, lad, to be honest … Dan Hooker back in the top five: could be a nice fight for me in the future.
Paddy Pimblett via his Official YT Channel UFC 305 PPV watch-along (@PaddyTheBaddyUFC)
Just before the reading of the scorecards, Pimblett accurately predicted that Hooker would have his hand up. Dan Hooker now sits at No. 5 on the UFC Athlete Rankings list. The British lightweight thus sees him as good competition ahead. Pimblett himself just entered the pound-for-pound rankings with a textbook triangle choke submission of King Green at UC 304’s feature bout.
Hooker has also expressed interest in money fights with different lightweight reverts, Conor McGregor possibly being one. The UFC 303 debacle might have paved the way for Hooker to slide past Michael Chandler and face McGregor. Hooker is also open to Charles Oliveira or even the touted title challenger Arman Tsarukyan. A subsequent clash with him can highly benefit the #15 Pimblett.
Paddy Pimblett reviews Dan Hooker’s competition worth
Dan Hooker is one of those underrated names that one often overlooks as probably not the top bill. That’s not to say he isn’t exciting enough. But it is what it is. However, ‘The Hangman’ has had several prominent scrappers to his name that justify his newfound lightweight ranking. Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett recognizes that.
Paddy Pimblett rates Dan Hooker as underrated (Source: heavy.com/X) Hooker even overcame the grapple and lean-in threats of Gamrot to pick up a hard-fought victory. The Liverpudlian was thus surprised to see Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) as such a big underdog in his latest UFC 305 matchup.
I agree with Gamrot being a favorite. I don’t know about a big favorite – Dan Hooker’s fought a much higher-caliber of fighter…Even though he lost a few, he lost a few to some of the best fighters in the world. I could end up fighting one of these, couldn’t I?
Paddy Pimblett further said (@PaddyTheBaddyUFC)
He already has a history with the current divisional king, Islam Makhachev. The Kiwi lightweight standout also went on a lengthy and entertaining house show clash with the consensus best boxer, Dustin Poirier. This particular matchup was one of the best technical battles of the time. The switch-stance Hooker, 34, showed similar mettle against Turner despite unfused bone injury.
Ask a UK crowd, and they’d say ‘The Baddy’ is more akin to a superstar like McGregor. The home crowd goes bonkers singing “Oh Paddy, The Baddy” to the ‘Lethal Industry + Where’s Your Head At’ Remix walkout theme. Now that he is ranked and clashing against common names with the top lightweights, Pimblett wants what’s best. As such, Hooker remains a big name for Pimblett to elevate himself.
