Dan Hooker gives cryptic approval to Dustin Poirier's adventurous idea of staging a one-night four-man tournament for the BMF title
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker seems to be on board with Dustin Poirier's idea of a four-man tournament for the UFC’s BMF championship. Poirier's proposal has sparked significant interest within the MMA community, including UFC CEO Dana White, who claimed that he "loves" the idea.
The tournament could seemingly be an ode to the UFC's early days, where multiple fighters competed in one night, and the last man standing would be crowned champion. Poirier suggested that the tournament bracket include himself, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, and Hooker. According to him and several MMA fans, these four fighters are some of the most exciting and durable athletes in the UFC, making them ideal candidates for the BMF title.
Hooker reacted to the idea on X and wrote:
"Don’t threaten me with a good time."
Check out Dan Hooker's X post below:
The format would see two semi-final matchups, with the winners advancing to a final on the same night. This old-school, high-stakes structure is a nod to the gritty roots of the UFC. The concept seems to be in line with the BMF championship's reputation for being awarded to the toughest fighters in the sport.
Dana White recently reacted to the idea at the post-fight press conference of DWCS (Dana White's Contender Series) and said:
"Sounds fun. Never thought about it, but I love it."
Check out White's reaction below:
Check out the full press conference below:
Dan Hooker wants to pursue a fight against Conor McGregor
Dan Hooker will reportedly be in attendance at the BKFC 67 (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) event, which is set to go down on Oct. 12 at the Marbella Arena in Malaga, Spain.
Hooker will be in the corner of MMA journalist Oscar Willis, who will take on fellow media personality Ben Davis in a highly anticipated clash in the lightweight division. Conor McGregor, a part owner of BKFC, will also reportedly be in attendance, considering that he invited boxer Oleksandr Usyk to attend the event during their brief interaction after the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois clash.
In a recent appearance on Fox Sports Australia, Hooker shared his intention to speak directly with McGregor, expressing his hope that the meeting will spark interest in a fight. He said:
"I am actually heading over to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships in Spain next week, which, Conor McGregor happens to own. So by the end of next week, I hopefully get a chance to either just have a word with him and see if he is interested in the fight. I'll send him a video of me drinking Forged Irish Stout every single day of my training camp. We'll work something out."
Check out Dan Hooker's comments below (1:31):