Dan Hooker, the fighter from New Zealand, was extremely eager to participate in the UFC 305 event held in Perth, Australia. His determination led him to sacrifice the main event position on a different card just to secure his place in the competition.
The No. 11 ranked Hooker faces No. 5 lightweight Mateusz Gamrot when the UFC returns down under on August 17th. In a new interview with Submission Radio, “The Hangman” detailed the difficulty in getting that fight put together.
He stated that the UFC had no interest in having me participate in Perth. Nobody wanted me there. However, I was determined not to miss out on this opportunity. It’s been a while since I fought on this side of the globe, specifically since my UFC Auckland match against Felder. The Anzac crowd is unbeatable, with the Australians and New Zealanders coming together. There’s nothing quite like being on a fight card with your fellow fighters.
I simply stood firm and replied, “No.” They offered me options like waiting for Beneil Dariush for a main event or headlining against a French opponent I’m unfamiliar with. But I insisted on fighting in Perth.”
Did Dan Hooker really turn down a main event at UFC Paris against Benoit Saint Denis? Benoit Saint Denis is now set to face Renato Moicano in the UFC’s September return to France. Hooker still did pretty well for himself: Gamrot is way up the rankings and Hooker could find himself at the top of the division with a strong win in August.
However, for “The Hangman,” the location is paramount.
He expressed, “Having been present at the previous event, I can confidently say it boasted one of the most energetic and remarkable audiences I’ve ever encountered. Hence, I simply desired to join the lineup for this card.”
UFC 305 also features a middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, plus a New Zealand vs. Australia battle between Kai Kara France and Steve Erceg.
