Dan
Hooker is the latest in a long list of fighters who wants in on
Conor
McGregor’s return to the Octagon.
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After a nearly three-year hiatus due to injury rehab and other
factors, McGregor recently announced that
he will be returning to the Octagon opposite Michael
Chandler on June 29.
However, McGregor’s word cannot be taken as confirmation of the
booking without any official announcement, as the Irishman has
teased a return on several occasions in the past.
Hooker, meanwhile, has now offered to be the backup fighter for
that matchup if it comes to fruition. “The Hangman” welcomed
Chandler to the UFC in January 2021, where he suffered a brutal
Round 1 knockout loss that allowed his opponent to secure a
lightweight title shot.
On one hand, Hooker has the lure of avenging a loss against
Chandler, and on the other lies the promise of a hefty payday
against McGregor.
“You obviously get to play the roulette. You get to take the
gamble, the exact gamble I would like to take which is be the
back-up for that fight,” Hooker told The
Mac Life. “Obviously fighting, couldn’t care who [I fight
next]. Top to bottom. Whoever’s free but yeah on the [June 29] card
and whoever gets injured, that’s like my perfect fight. Either a
rematch with Chandler, which is obviously a fight I’d die for or
the McGregor fight. Everyone knows why you want to have that
fight.”
Hooker is coming off a gritty split decision win over up-and-comer
Jalin
Turner at
UFC 290 that put him on a two-fight winning streak. He then
suffered a hand injury in sparring that required surgery, forcing
him out of a scheduled clash against Bobby Green
last month.
Hooker is willing to try his luck and wait for the June 29
card.
“I would be ready to go probably May or early June,” he said. “But
I’d be willing to wait to late June because you’re playing that
game where you can step in.
“I don’t mind either of the blokes. I got no personal vendetta
against Chandler, that is what it is. He beat me fair and square. I
got no qualms about that, that’s just the sport. Conor… that’s a
cool fight card to be a part of. I’ve been a part of a McGregor
card before.”