Lightweight Star Not Keen on #1 Contender Matchup Against Paddy Pimblett Because of ONE Simple Reason

Fan-favorite fighter Dan Hooker is not fond of a matchup with Paddy Pimblett, and thinks the UK native won't bring out best in him.

Lightweight Star Not Keen on #1 Contender Matchup Against Paddy Pimblett Because of ONE Simple Reason

Dan Hooker doesn’t rate Paddy Pimblett as a top lightweight (Source: X)

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With a long-reigning champion leaving and an ‘El Matador’ bagging the crown, the UFC lightweight division is on a hard shuffle. Many top names in the convoluted weight class are stumping hard to become the #1 contender for gold, including Dan Hooker. The popular Kiwi fighter might soon find himself in a title eliminator, and one name he doesn’t prefer is Paddy Pimblett.

A big reason as to why the #6 ranked contender Dan Hooker isn’t positioning himself for larger scraps in the top order is that he has been on the bench since last August. On top of his unfused and unhealed bones, he broke his arm once again in a sure FOTY contender against Mateusz Gamrot.

However, given his caliber, ‘Hangman’ bills he has one good, big left to either make a BMF challenge, or the undisputed gold. Another facet of it is that he doesn’t think Paddy Pimblett will bring out the best in him to take that challenge seriously.

He keeps looking better than he looked before, but…like, he never really looked that good….No, I don’t think the guy’s that good and then it brings out the best of me when I fight like an actual good fighter; When they give me someone that I think I can beat or I think someone’s sh*t— then I fight sh*t! My mind subconsciously relaxes because I think they’re sh*t— and then I do sh*t I shouldn’t— and then they beat me… So I’d rather just fight the best guy…[rather than him].

Dan Hooker told Denis Shkuratov of the ‘Submission Radio’

Pimblett once told The Guardian that his easy-going demeanor, his signature wavy coiffure, a lack of menacing tattoos, and a party anthem mashup of Lethal Industry’ by Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano – ‘Heads Will Roll’ by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs make him relatable. Furthermore, his face-first munching habits, and his friendly Liverpudlian charm have made him a big UK Pay-per-view draw.

Even with back-to-back SOTY contender and an easy third-round TKO win aside, Hooker doesn’t bill him top fighter material like others have. Hence, Hooker admitted he doesn’t rate ‘The Baddy’ as a top 155-pounder and remains reluctant to give him a chance.

Hangman vs. The Baddy is an exciting option, but Pimblett’s brand of exciting is not his cup of tea. For now, the Auckland-based fighter will be hard-pressed for a new challenge. As such, the Kiwi fighter thinks he understands why there isn’t a new title challenger as of yet.

UFC execs purposefully hiding next lightweight title challenger, according to Dan Hooker

Top five lightweights, Justin Gaethje and Arman Tsarukyan, think they need to be paid in a title shot for their dues. Tsarukyan is more flexible to it and is willing to work up the ladder, given he pulled out the last time. The #2 lightweight has wanted a title eliminator matchup against ‘Highlight’ and was also willing to face Paddy Pimblett for a summer PPV booking.

Dan Hooker gives insight into UFC lightweight title challenge
Dan Hooker gives insight into UFC lightweight title challenge (Source: X)

Meanwhile, Pimblett might have overlapped their chances with his history and a charged-up face-off with the champ. Ilia Topuria has said Pimblett needs at least one more win to clear things up, but he, too, is deeply intent on it.

On the adjunct side of it, Max Holloway is now a permanent ranked resident at 155 pounds. With his win over two former top contenders, even UFC CEO Dana White thinks a Holloway vs. Topuria 2 PPV title fight could be in short order. It’s easy to see how the lightweight top order is overcrowded with names, each deserving a chance. Dan Hooker thinks it’s a purposeful tactic of not naming names:

They [UFC] never paint themselves into a situation…[if and when] there’s a clear number one contender that has to fight for the belt. Because if they’re ever in that situation, then negotiations obviously become very difficult for them…If the fans are 100% locked and expecting that there’s only one guy that makes sense for the title, you’d think when they sit down and negotiate that the UFC’s in a strong position?

Dan Hooker further told Denis Shkuratov of the ‘Submission Radio’

Hooker believes the UFC prefers to maintain this structure across all divisions because it gives them more leverage when negotiating fight terms. Litigation has had to deal with 1/1 of fighters like Khamzat Chimaev (had title shot promise, thrice), Tom Aspinall (warranted championship unification by default), and a few others. But if it’s a pool of fighters scrambling for gold, pricing such championship fights becomes easier along the way.

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