Dan Hooker for next UFC fight ‘would be ideal’

Beneil Dariush sees Dan Hooker as a perfect option for his next fight.

Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was scheduled to return against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in January, but didn’t end up competing after Moicano was pulled to face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event. Dariush also put his hand up to step in, but the UFC ultimately went with Moicano.

Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) wound up getting quickly submitted by Makhachev. Dariush, who was paid his purse, said the promotion promised to make it up to him. He’d accept rescheduling the Moicano fight, even though he wouldn’t classify that as being rewarded.

“They’ve mentioned that about rebooking that fight, and I’m not against it because I’m not in a situation where I could be like, ‘Oh, I want to fight this guy’ coming off two losses,” Dariush told MMA Junkie.

“So if that’s the fight they want to make, that’s fine. I just figured when Dana (White) said, ‘We’re going to make it up to Dariush,’ I figured it would be somebody ranked actually higher than me, not behind me. So whatever.”

Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) was scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in Saturday’s UFC 313 co-main event, but was forced out after fracturing his hand. He underwent surgery and is targeting a return at UFC 317 on June 28 against Arman Tsarukyan.

If Hooker doesn’t get that fight, Dariush is ready to face him in that timeline.

“Dan Hooker would be ideal because he’s ranked ahead of me, and if he’s trying to come back at International Fight Week, that would be a perfect time,” Dariush said. “That’s perfectly fine with me. I would be very happy with that setup if that’s what they do.”

Dariush also likes how he matches up with Hooker, who’s on a three-fight winning streak.

“I have better tools everywhere,” Dariush said. “I think I can outstrike him, I can outgrapple him, I even think I can outdog him if it’s a three-round fight. I don’t see where he would have an advantage over me.”