Jun 10, 2017; Auckland, NZ; Dan Hooker (red gloves) reacts after defeating Ross Pearson (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Spark Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Watts-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Dan Hooker Has A Message For Arman Tsarukyan After His ‘Brothers’ Comment Ahead Of UFC Qatar

Jun 10, 2017; Auckland, NZ; Dan Hooker (red gloves) reacts after defeating Ross Pearson (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Spark Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Watts-USA TODAY Sports

Pre-fight trash talk can get lost in translation pretty easily, especially in a global sport like MMA. Fighters come from different cultures and speak different languages, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings. What sounds threatening in one context might be completely harmless in another. Arman Tsarukyan recently made comments about bringing his ‘brothers’ to Qatar for his upcoming fight against Dan Hooker.

The lightweight contender said if he and Hooker had any interaction before the event, his teammates would hold him back to prevent an early scrap. His meaning was evident that he did not want to fight before the event. But, the message was probably misunderstood by Hooker. In any case, the rivalry still burns hot ahead of their scheduled fight.

Dan Hooker Ready For Chaos

When Ariel Helwani told Hooker about Tsarukyan’s comments during his show, the New Zealand fighter didn’t hold back his response. Hooker made it crystal clear that threats don’t intimidate him one bit. His reply dripped with the kind of confidence that only comes from years of fighting the world’s best competitors. Hooker basically claimed he’s been jumped before and survived worse situations than anything Tsarukyan could throw at him.

“I have had my ass beat more times than you had hot dinner brother. If you think that scares me in any shape or form, you are off your head.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Uncrowned (@uncrowned)

The veteran lightweight wasn’t bragging. Hooker (24-12) was stating facts based on his long career in combat sports. Hooker has fought killers in the division and taken serious damage in wars that would break lesser men. Even his teammate and former champion Israel Adesanya labelled him a ‘psychopath’ due to his love for pain.

When Helwani asked Hooker if he also has some dangerous brothers backing him up, the Kiwi fighter made his philosophy clear. He said he doesn’t send anyone else to do his dirty work. Hooker sees himself as someone who handles his own business without needing backup. Whether that’s smart or just stubborn remains debatable, but it definitely fits Hooker’s personality as a straight shooting fighter who doesn’t play games!

The fight is set for UFC Qatar on November 22, which should be an absolute banger regardless of pre fight drama. Both men are elite lightweights with exciting styles and serious skills. Hooker’s willingness to stand and trade makes him dangerous for anyone, while Tsarukyan’s wrestling and well rounded game present major problems. The miscommunication just adds another layer to their story!

(Image Credit: Simon Watts – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Dan Hooker

UFC Qatar

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!