Dan Hooker has a close eye on the two 155-pound scraps slated for UFC 274 next weekend.
The highly anticipated pay-per-view event sees divisional champion, Charles Oliveira, defending his belt opposite number one contender, Justin Gaethje; as well as the return of Tony Ferguson following a year’s absence from the sport when he takes on the explosive Michael Chandler.
Hooker, appearing on The AllStar’s MMA Live show, expressed his excitement regarding the two main card fixtures, and offered his credentialed opinion on each fight respectively.
“You have to look at some similar opponents,” he told John Hyon Ko, in regards to the five-round championship bout. Coincidently, the Kiwi pointed to Gaethje’s last dance with Ferguson as a solid point of reference for ‘The Highlight’s possible avenues of offense when he faces Oliveira.
“Besides all the bullshit that Tony Ferguson does,” he prefaced, with a chuckle. “The way [he and Oliveira] move is pretty similar [and] they stand quite tall in their stance.”
Provided the former D-1 wrestler can stick to his game plan, Hooker imagines this conclusion resembling that of the aforementioned UFC 249 bout – with Gaethje “just picking him apart.”
“If it’s a slower pace fight, then I’m definitely leaning toward Gaethje, just with that footwork,” he wagered; also noting that the American’s recently displayed level of composure inside the Octagon is “a new feather in his cap.”
Though Hooker cautions, if Oliveira can dictate the pace and position of the exchanges, the tables will turn.
“If it gets into a wild frenzy and Charles Oliveira has a chance to drag this to the mat, I’d say it leans more towards him.”
Turning his attention to the remaining lightweight pairing on the main card, ‘The Hangman’ declared “this is a fun one.”
Admitting, in his mind, it’s not as simple a fight to dissect as the former, Hooker pointed to the unknowns surrounding Ferguson’s return after an extended break away from the cage. He argued the 38-year-old might just return rejuvenated after becoming ‘burnt out’ with the sport after a fourteen-year career.
“He obviously turned his phone off, from what Sean Shelby’s told me… The bro just turned his phone off, put it down, and just didn’t care about it – which is obviously the best thing for him. So we’re gonna see that, we’re gonna see what Tony Ferguson looks like after a good holiday – coming back fresh and good to go.”
Regarding Chandler’s game plan, Hooker says it’s no question what the pressure-heavy fighter wants to do.
“He’s gonna come out and start throwing. The guy’s kinda got like reckless abandon for his own health.”
“That’s an interesting way to fight Tony Ferguson,” he continued.
Acknowledging ‘Iron Mike’ is in the promotion “for a good time, not a long time,” the New Zealand Native urged against simply walking Ferguson down with brute force – he believes the UFC veteran possesses the tools to dismantle such an offense.
“The way that he slices people up and moves and he’s so awkward – it’s gonna be hard to really time him or get a gauge on him.”
“I can’t even pick in this one,” Hooker confessed.
“I’m just excited to see how Ferguson looks.”