Morning Report: Dan Hooker Responds To Islam Makhachev: “Brother, You Are Just Copying Your Buddy’s Homework”

Last Saturday at UFC Vegas 31, Islam Makhachev put on a dominant performance in his first main event, submitting Thiago Moises with a choke in the back in the fourth round. After the victory, Makhachev called for fights against many of the top ranked fighters in the lightweight division, including Rafael dos Anjos, Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler. One name he didn’t mention, however, was Dan Hooker.

Hooker and Makhachev have briefly argued in the past when Hooker reportedly turned down a fight with Makhachev in favor of a fight with Paul Felder for the 2020 UFC Auckland main event. At the time, Makhavchev tore Hooker up for afraid to face him, but after Makhachev’s performance on Saturday, Hooker says he has no regrets about his decision because Makhachev is not an entertaining opponent.

“I was sort of looking and moving quickly. I got bored, ”said Hooker Radio Submission. “So I can’t really… love, yeah.” It is kind of what it is.

“Coming into the main event at UFC Auckland I knew Felder was going to be the fight and then Islam started to kick in. So, I started joking with him, saying that I should give tickets to the event in the Pak-n-Save parking lot if I booked with Islam Makhachev. So I can’t say that I regret that I didn’t do everything I could to fight Islam, to wage a five-round war in my hometown with Paul Felder. And if that had been anything like he performed in his main event, this isn’t the fighting style that Kiwi fans want to see. They want to see two guys go out and really challenge each other and see who’s the best. Like I said, I got a little bored watching his main event in fast forward. So, I couldn’t imagine watching this damn thing live in my hometown. I think there would have been a bloody riot after the fight.

While your mileage may vary depending on Makhachev’s fighting style, it’s impossible to deny that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s anointed successor is a formidable fighter. Currently on an eight-game winning streak in the UFC, Makhachev has recently struggled to face top-notch opponents and as a result has pushed a narrative that fighters are afraid to fight him and it is this approach. things that got Hooker’s feathers irritated.

“You see scrolling around and seeing similar videos of him saying everyone’s scared, everybody’s scared to fight him, oh, the whole division is shaking. Buddy, you’re just copying your buddy’s homework. Hand in your buddy’s homework and find something for you, son.

“He’s on a good streak right now, but I think he’s been knocked out in the UFC before. So him copying Khabib’s homework and saying all those crazy things when you got flattened in the octagon, it doesn’t really sound like an undefeated fighter. He just beat number 15. And then the guys in the top five are supposed to yell his name and fight?

“…. It just doesn’t make sense for these guys to come out with the scoring that everyone is afraid of them.” I really believe that no one in this top 15 is afraid to fight someone else in the top 15. It just doesn’t make sense. Is everyone afraid of someone? You watch them get the belt and no one turns down a fight. Everyone is positioning themselves to be champion, and that is exactly what it is. So the idea that fighters are afraid of another fighter is just plain silly. And if you believe it, I think you’re just a little gullible.

Normally that kind of heat between fighters could lead to a possible fight to sort things out, however, at this point it looks like Makhachev thinks he has passed Hooker. In pre-fight prep for UFC Vegas 31, Makhachev said he doesn’t think a fight with Hooker is a big step for him at this point, saying his goal is an opponent who has him. will help fight for the belt, which Hooker thinks is funny considering Makhachev’s first choice as an opponent.

“Oh, it’s just funny,” Hooker said. “Like, I really don’t care. I don’t take it too seriously. Like, it’s just a bunch of jokes for me. But if you distribute it, you better be able to take it. So his reason (for not fighting me is) that I’m like three losses in my last six fights. And then in the same breath, he calls Tony Ferguson who has lost three times in a row. So that makes about as much sense as shitting in a swimming pool. “

And should the two ever meet in the cage to settle their differences? Hooker has no illusions it would be an easy fight, but he thinks that if it were a main event, he would ultimately stop the Islam Makhachev hype train, flatly.

“It’s like a tough question because there are so many different things, ”Hooker said. “I would say I would like this fight to be a five round for sure. And I would say it’s like two and a half rounds of defense and recovery. But when I get back up there, I feel like I’ve turned off his lights.

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Results. Islam Makhachev and Miesha Tate finish late at UFC Vegas 31.

Results. Juliana Velasquez gets a split decision over Denise Kielholtz to defend the title at Bellator 262.

Rivalry. Islam Makhachev names Tony Ferguson as the first choice for the next opponent: “Let’s get it over with”.

Return. Miesha Tate responds to Holly Holm after her comeback win and tells bantamweight “they can all get it.”

Reply. Michael Chandler reacts to Islam Makhachev’s call after UFC Vegas 31: “I think wrestling beats sambo”.

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UFC Vegas 31 Post Show.

UFC Vegas 31 post-fight press conference.

Behind the Scenes of Islam Makhachev’s Weight Loss.

Enemies: The Story of Israel Adesanya-Dan Hooker.

Gilbert Burns is ready to fight Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal.

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On the next one. Matchmaking for the UFC after UFC Vegas 31.

Severe MMA. Discuss UFC Vegas 31, Conor McGregor and UFC signing Ian Garry.

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Islam will continue to have difficulty fighting.

Call out.

The respect.

Feel good.

Less then.

Shadow.

Bobby Knuckles learns from his son.

Nick Newell teaches you important things.

Advancement.

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N / A.

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It feels good to be back! Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow.

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