Now that he’s back in the top five, Dan Hooker will look to take a more cautious approach.
Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) re-entered the UFC’s top-five lightweight rankings after outlasting Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 earlier this month. Hooker recalls how the last time he was a highly ranked contender, he took a big risk that didn’t pay off.
“I kind of have learned that from my first rodeo, is to just kind of not do anything dumb this time around,” Hooker told ESPN Australia . “I mean, the last time I was No. 5, I agreed to fight Michael Chandler. Gave Michael Chandler a shot, it was his first fight in the UFC.
“I flew to Abu Dhabi, so other side of the world with absolutely no coaches, and went and fought him with a guy I’d been training for six months in my corner. It was not the smartest of decisions, so I guess this time around, I’m just not going to do anything dumb or sell my title shot again.”
Hooker is now more centered with his management and team guiding him. He revealed that the UFC bounced the idea of Charles Oliveira for him next, and how he’d also be open to No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan.
“The Hangman” went from losing four of five to a three-fight winning streak.
“I appreciate my team and my coaches a lot more than I did before,” Hooker said. “I had the bad string during COVID. It was just obviously very difficult as an international fighter competing during COVID – especially in New Zealand where we had some of the harshest lockdowns in the world.
“You could just see in those fights, I was doing it without my coaches and without my team. I guess when I just came back, it’s a greater appreciation for the role that those guys play in my career.”
Paddy Pimblett: Dan Hooker 'could be a nice fight for me in the future'
Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305: Best photos
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mateusz-gamrot-dan-hooker-ufc-305-ceremonial-weigh-ins Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
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Matuesz Gamrot, UFC 305 1 (UFC)
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Matuesz Gamrot, UFC 305 2 (UFC)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in the Lightweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth Dan Hooker vs. Mateusz Gamrot
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in the Lightweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER Poland's Mateusz Gamrot and New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fight in their men's lightweight division… Poland's Mateusz Gamrot and New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fight in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in the Lightweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in the Lightweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in the Lightweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand fights Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in the Lightweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker (in black) fights against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand looks on in his Lightweight fight… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand looks on in his Lightweight fight against Mateusz Gamrot of Poland during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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Dan Hooker def. Matuesz Gamrot, UFC 305 1 (UFC)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER Dan Hooker
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UFC 305 Perth PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand reacts after being announced the winner… PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dan Hooker of New Zealand reacts after being announced the winner of the Lightweight fight against Mateusz Gamrot of Poland during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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MMA-UFC-AUS-GAMROT-HOOKER New Zealand's Dan Hooker celebrates his victory against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division… New Zealand's Dan Hooker celebrates his victory against Poland's Mateusz Gamrot in their men's lightweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Dan Hooker def. Matuesz Gamrot, UFC 305 Scorecard
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