“I am just the best option” – Dan Hooker explains why Dustin Poirier accepted fight

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Saiyed Adeem Karim

Dan Hooker vs Dustin Poirier is the main event on the next UFC show

Dan Hooker was on Submission Radio speaking ahead of his fight against Dustin Poirier. This is the main event on the next UFC show and it features two of the most experienced lightweights going head to head.

At the time of the interview, Hooker was still in New Zealand with just a week to go for the fight. He was asked why if Poirier wanted the fight or if he just ran out of options.

Dan Hooker believes he can defeat Dustin Poirier
Dan Hooker of New Zealand celebrates his victory over Al Iaquinta of the United States fight in their Lightweight bout during UFC 243 (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Hooker claimed it was a bit of both and also that he was the best option at the moment:

“A bit of both. There was definitely no one else above him that was ready to go or willing to fight. So, a bit of both.

“He obviously wants to stay active and to get back in there and he is obviously hungry to mix it up with someone. And I am just the best option.”

The Kiwi further claimed that there wasn’t a huge risk in fighting him and even a loss for Poirier wouldn’t take him out of the top five.

Dustin Poirier is one of the top Lightweight stars
Dustin Poirier of United States looks on against Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia during their Lightweight Title Bout during UFC 242 (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

However, Hooker claimed this was a 50-50 fight and they could knock each other out.

Open to fighting anyone

It will be interesting to see how this clash goes. Poirier is a former interim UFC Lightweight champion and Hooker was keen on getting into the mix for the title.

Of course, that is difficult at the moment given how stacked the division is. Khabib Nurmagomedov is the champion while Justin Gaethje is the interim champion.

Justin Gaethje celebrates winning the UFC interim Lightweight title at 249
Justin Gaethje celebrates after defeating Tony Ferguson in their Interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249 (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

They are to meet each other soon and it will be interesting to see who is next for a title shot. Tony Ferguson and Conor McGregor are also in the mix, and Hooker was open to having another fight soon.

He claimed that waiting for a title shot would be the smart move. However, the Kiwi suggested he wasn’t that smart and was keen for another fight after defeating Poirier.

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