UFC rating lightweight Dan Hooker claims that, despite the statements of Islam Makhachev’s team, he was not actually offered to fight the Russian fighter in the octagon. According to the New Zealand fighter, he did not even know that Makhachev wanted to fight him.
“The only reason that fight didn’t get put together is he wasn’t ready to go in June. That’s the only thing I can see from my end. He’s got himself another fight, he gets through that or whatever.”
Dan Hooker further stated that he never stipulated for an opponent in the UFC and was never offered the fight against Makhachev. The Kiwi mentioned that Makhachev’s name never came across his desk, and in doing so, Hooker also took a shot at his former octagon counterpart Paul Felder.
Hooker and Felder competed in one of the most brutal lightweight fights in recent history. ‘The Hangman’ fought Felder in early 2020 in his native land of New Zealand and survived a brutal five-round main event against ‘The Irish Dragon’.
“To me, I never stipulated an opponent. I’ve never been offered that fight. That name has never come across my desk, so it’s funny. But I’m not Paul Felder, those kind of people, I guess they never irritate me like they irritated him. “