Dan Hooker could fight Charles Oliveira next, 'The Hangman' reportedly met Hunter Campbell post-UFC 305
Dan Hooker could possibly be clashing with a former UFC lightweight champion in his next outing after defeating a top five ranked 155 pounder over the weekend. Hooker entered the cage as the number eleven ranked contender but things will likely shift a fair bit after his split decision victory over the number five ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot.
Hooker would presumably be riding high after this UFC 305 victory and may have gotten taken to even loftier heights after Hunter Campbell reportedly initimated to him that he may be fighting Charles Oliveira next. 'The Hangman' imparted this anecdote of interacting with the promotion's executive vice president and chief business officer to The Mac Life following the Gamrot victory.
Check out Dan Hooker discussing the potential that a Charles Oliveira matchup could be booked next below:
Dan Hooker and his massive UFC career turnaround
Dan Hooker will likely now find himself in the top five of a weight class that many have referred to as a shark tank for many years now. This may be the most momentum 'The Hangman' has ever had as he rides a three fight winning streak after a stretch that saw him go 1-4.
The 34-year-old at one point had a pair of losses to former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier and former multi-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler. Following the Chandler setback at UFC 257, Hooker briefly got back to the win column against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 on points.
Hooker would then suffer another pair of consecutive defeats to current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and was finished by Arnold Allen after briefly attempting a return to featherweight.
The New Zealand native would rebound by finishing Claudio Puelles at UFC 281 by way of a body kick in the second round. Hooker would extend his winning streak to three with back-to-back split decision wins thereafter over Jalin Turner at UFC 290 and the aforementioned Gamrot fight at UFC 305.
The performance was especially impressive for Dan Hooker considering an injury had kept him outside of the cage for over a year between the Turner and Gamrot contests. Whether it's lightweight gold or another coveted strap within the company, Hooker seems well positioned for whatever his next fight will be.