The lightweight division’s top 10 always promises fireworks. Title fight or not, if it’s a fight at 155 lbs, we’re tuning. That’s the story with the co-main event of UFC 313, featuring Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. Both are known for bringing a specific brand of violence inside the Octagon, and fans are foaming at the mouth to see this clash. But there was another possible matchup involving Hooker that had fans excited, and that was a possible clash with ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor. At one point, it felt like ‘The Hangman’ would be the one welcoming McGregor back to the Octagon.
The pair crossed paths at the BKFC Marbella event, sharing a brief but notable moment on the sidelines. When asked about his long-anticipated return, Conor McGregor surprised reporters by claiming he would be facing the Kiwi fighter in February. While many are intimidated by the former dual champion’s presence Hooker seemed to have enjoyed the whole interaction. In fact, he might have even taken a jibe at the Irishman.
‘The Hangman’ shared his experience while speaking to Michael Bisping on his podcast alongside Paul Felder. He said, “So I met Conor McGregor in Spain at his BKFC event and whatever. And the whole week, I was hanging out with his mates and they all going, ‘Yeah, yeah it will be a good fight.’ And I’m going, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll just strike with him you know.’ Like we’ll just stand up it’ll just be a striking match. And I extended my hand and he shook my hand and we shook each other’s hand and I just shook my head and I went, ‘Oh, I’m grabbing you.’ I’m not even—like, ‘I can squeeze you to death bro like.’ That’s just how really I felt about that.”
We’re wondering how Conor McGregor will take Dan Hooker’s words. “Squeeze you to death”? That sounds like a man who is awfully confident of beating you if he says that about you. We’re not making anything of it, but if we were to keep an eye open, and if these words reached ‘The Notorious’, you could be sure of the Irishman’s verbal onslaught towards Hooker. But this is just an interview with Michael Bisping and Paul Felder, not some off-the-cuff remark like the one Paul Hughes made about McGregor at PFL: Road to Dubai.
And verbal tirade or not, Dan Hooker isn’t someone who looks like he’ll be bothered about what Conor McGregor (or anyone else) would say about him. With UFC 313 coming up, he has bigger fish to fry. So what is his approach with regard to his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje? Let’s find out.
Dan Hooker is looking to leave everything inside the Octagon at UFC 313
Dan Hooker is the embodiment of a true gladiator, entering the Octagon not just to fight, but to wage war. The New Zealand native carries a mindset as sharp as his striking—there’s no room for half-measures in his world of grit and determination. On the other side stands Justin Gaethje, his American counterpart, mirroring Hooker’s warrior mentality. Both men share the same fearless philosophy when it comes to combat—victory or devastation, but never retreat. The stakes in this showdown couldn’t be higher, with the winner potentially edging closer to a shot at lightweight gold.
But where does Dan Hooker stand on it all? For him, the goal isn’t just victory—it’s giving everything he has, no matter the cost. If that means being carried out on a stretcher when the dust settles, so be it. Speaking with ESPN Australia, Hooker left no doubt about his mindset—a declaration that was later highlighted by Championship Rounds on Instagram.
He said, “I know full well, 100 percent that the fight is gonna end no matter whether his arm gets raised, my arm gets raised, and then I’m going straight on to a stretcher, straight into the back of an ambulance and I’m going to the hospital.” Both fighters have proven themselves among the elite at 155 pounds, and a win here could push them one step closer to a coveted title opportunity.
Which violent fighter will come out victorious at UFC 313? Will it be Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker or his American counterpart Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.
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