Mar 20, 2015; Brisbane, Australia; Dan Hooker (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Mark Eddiva (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Mandatory Credit: Matt Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

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“Losing To A Bloke From New Zealand” – Dan Hooker Boldly Predicts Upset Win Over Arman Tsarukyan

Dan Hooker has been away from the octagon for what feels like forever. The New Zealand lightweight has been dealing with an elbow injury that kept him sidelined while the division moved on without him. During his absence, fighters like Arman Tsarukyan climbed the rankings and positioned themselves as title contenders. Now Hooker is finally healthy and ready to return. He will face Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar on November 22, and nobody seems to be giving him much of a chance.

The betting odds favor Tsarukyan heavily, and most fans think this will be a routine win for the rising contender. But Dan Hooker boldly predicted an upset win over Arman Tsarukyan, and he’s actually excited about being the underdog!

Why Is Dan Hooker Thrilled To Be The Underdog?

Speaking with Sky Sports, Dan Hooker explained exactly why this fight excites him so much. He went on to explain that anything good he does will make Tsarukyan look foolish. The expectations are set so low for Dan that exceeding them becomes easy. Meanwhile, Arman carries the pressure of being the supposed superstar athlete and title contender. He’s the guy people say should be fighting Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title. Some fans even think the UFC is protecting champions from him because he’s so dangerous.

“This fight excites me because they feel like Arman is a lot better than I am. It’s like anything good that I do, Arman is going to look more like an idiot. He was supposed to be this super freak athlete, title contender, the guy to beat Ilia Topuria, they’re hiding the champion from him. And now he’s losing to Dan Hooker, the bloke from New Zealand who’s lost a third of his fights.”

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Dan Hooker (24-12) knows his record isn’t perfect. He’s taken tough losses against elite competition throughout his career. But he’s also pulled off impressive victories when nobody expected them. Hooker has fought the best lightweights in the world and survived wars that would break lesser fighters. His experience and toughness shouldn’t be underestimated, even if the odds suggest otherwise.

What Makes This Fight So Intriguing

The matchup between Hooker and Tsarukyan genuinely delivers intrigue. Tsarukyan brings a well-rounded game with exceptional grappling credentials. His wrestling and top control have frustrated many fighters in the lightweight division. If he gets Hooker down repeatedly, this could become a long night for the New Zealander. But that’s a big if.

Dan Hooker’s takedown defense has improved significantly over the years. Hooker’s length and boxing give him tools to pick Tsarukyan apart at range. If he can stuff takedowns and force a striking battle, the upset becomes very possible. The fight also matters tremendously for both men’s futures. Tsarukyan needs this win to maintain his position as a top contender. Meanwhile, Dan sees this as his chance to crash back into relevance and remind everyone why he belongs among the lightweight elite.

(Image Credit: Matt Roberts – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Dan Hooker

UFC Qatar

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!