Dan Hooker Wants To Welcome Usman Nurmagomedov To The UFC

Dan Hooker (24-14) would happily welcome the PFL lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov (22-0) to the UFC, as he feels he’s developed a reputation of taking on risky fights that he believes “no one else wants to take.”

Hooker was the one to welcome Michael Chandler to the Octagon in January 2021, when the American joined the UFC after a three-time stint as Bellator’s lightweight champion, however Hooker was knocked out by Chandler in the first round.

Hooker, ranked Number 12 at 155 pounds, will hope for a different outcome in the main event at UFC Paris on September 5 when he welcomes Salahdine Parnasse (23-2) to the Octagon, following the French-Moroccan fighter excelling in the Polish promotion, KSW, becoming a two-division champion. Following UFC Paris, Hooker is ready for his next fight in the Octagon to be against Usman.

“It’ll be the same thing with Usman,” Hooker said. “No one else will take the fight. You think Ilia Topuria’s going to take that risk of fighting an unranked non-UFC fighter? No one else wants to take the risk.”

Although Usman Nurmagomedov is not on the UFC roster as of yet, rumors are swirling he will join the promotion once is exclusive negotiating window with the PFL closes at then end of October, especially since he recently turned down $2 million dollar offer to re-sign.