Dan Hooker is demanding a battle with Arman Tsarukyan—if solely as a result of nobody else appears to need it.
“The Hangman” is at present on the mend after present process hand surgical procedure this previous March, however when he returns, he’s hoping to face high light-weight contender Tsarukyan in a bout that would produce a title challenger for present champion Ilia Topuria.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Hooker laid out how he expects the division to shake out within the close to future and the place a possible battle with Tsarukyan may slot in.
“In all probability [Max Holloway’s] obtained yet one more I believe [before rematching Topuria],” Hooker stated. “Clearly, [Islam Makhachev’s] going as much as welterweight. Ilia will in all probability battle [Justin] Gaethje. That leaves Holloway, and Holloway ain’t going to battle Arman, nobody desires to see that. Holloway will in all probability battle [Charles] Oliveira, Gaethje will battle for the title, after which that leaves my man Arman, that’s the battle I need. That’s the battle that is sensible.
“They informed him yet one more. He’s turned down [Mateusz] Gamrot, who’s ranked one earlier than me. Let’s be trustworthy, [Tsarukyan’s] a strolling bag of sand, however he’s an excellent fighter and now all these large title guys, they’ve obtained a superb excuse to not battle him. Ilia stated he’s not going to battle him. The UFC says that he wants yet one more. And between Arman and me, there’s Oliveira, they’ve already had that battle. … [Tsarukyan’s] caught combating me. He’s obtained to battle me to get again within the combine and to get a title shot.”
Hooker and Tsarukyan are each on win streaks, although their contender standing is murky. In his most up-to-date outing, Hooker received a cut up determination over Mateusz Gamrot in a Combat of the Evening-winning bout, however has not competed since August. Tsarukyan’s scenario is even trickier as he was set to problem Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title at UFC 311 this previous January, however a again harm pressured him out of the competition a day earlier than battle night time and the expectation is that he wants a win to earn a championship alternative once more.
In response to Hooker, his curiosity in combating Tsarukyan shouldn’t be private and he understands why others may be reluctant to face him.
“That’s at all times the battle I need and never as a result of he’s a prick and I hate him, however as a result of I genuinely that he’s the toughest battle and all these large title guys have an excuse to not battle him as a result of I believe he’s the perfect at profitable fights,” Hooker stated of Tsarukyan. “He’s not essentially probably the most harmful fighter—Oliveira may be very harmful, Gaethje may be very harmful—I believe he’s the perfect at profitable fights and so a number of these guys have a justifiable purpose to keep away from combating him and in order that’s been my strategy since I first stepped foot within the UFC is that I need to battle the perfect guys. I believe Arman’s the perfect man, in order that’s the battle that I need and that’s the battle that I believe they’re going to make occur.”
As a lot as Hooker respects Tsarukyan, that hasn’t stopped him from firing again at his potential opponent on social media. Hooker not too long ago referred to as for fights with Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan, although his callout of Tsarukyan was significantly much less well mannered.
Somebody get up Charlie Olives and inform him we combating in November.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) July 25, 2025
On a facet word Armans a bitch and he can get it too, daddy’s dwelling.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) July 25, 2025
“That was due to our final dialogue,” Hooker stated, explaining his on-line jab. “He stated, ‘On a facet word…’ and he took pictures at me out of nowhere. Bro, I’m the one one which’s going to battle you, you dumb f*ck. That’s the battle. I’m the one one which’s going to step up and battle the man. Who else goes to battle the man?
“I similar to the sound of that New York card. Clearly, it could have been cool to battle in Perth and to return to Perth and to headline with Arman in Perth, however it could have been simply eight weeks. New York is 16 weeks. Would have been a little bit of a rush for the hand to be good and prepared [for UFC Perth], however I nonetheless was going to do it as a result of I wished to do it for the followers and do it for the UFC and I’d have rushed again and I’d have fought early and I’d have fought when the hand wasn’t prepared and I’d have fought nonetheless form of recovering from that harm.”
