Fighter loyalty runs deep, especially when teammates support each other. New Zealand has produced some incredible UFC talent over the years, from former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to rising stars like Kai Kara-France. These fighters often travel across the world to corner their teammates during big fights. The bond between training partners goes beyond just sharing gym time. They become family members who celebrate victories and share defeats together.<\/p>
Dan Hooker has been a cornerstone of the New Zealand MMA scene for years. He has built a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in his division. The lightweight is known for his willingness to take tough fights and put on shows for the fans. When his teammate Kai Kara-France got the opportunity to challenge flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 317 in June, Hooker naturally wanted to be there. After all, supporting your training partners during their biggest moments is what teammates do. Unfortunately, what should have been a celebration of friendship turned into a frustrating experience that left Hooker questioning his relationship with the UFC<\/a>.<\/p> The trouble started early in the morning on fight day. The UFC apparently scheduled some kind of promotional activity for Hooker at 7:30 AM ET, which translated to 3:00 AM New Zealand time. Hooker had been responsible the night before, staying in and getting to bed early. However, when the alarm went off at what felt like the middle of the night, he made the very human decision to hit the snooze button.<\/p> “They tried to get me out of bed at 7.30 [ET] in the morning<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em><\/strong>The UFC booked me for some s*** – which is three in the morning New Zealand time. I didn’t even go out, I had an early night, but I’m not getting out of bed at three in the morning to do just about anything. I slept in, and I didn’t go to the UFC thing.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>Dan Hooker Reveals Relation Souring Experience With UFC <\/h2>