Max Holloway’s BMF title could live on after UFC 318.
The former UFC Featherweight Champion won his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, retiring his longtime rival in the main event of UFC 318. Holloway’s unanimous decision win marked the first successful BMF title defense in history.
Following the fight, UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns suggested beloved former champion Charles Oliveira fight for the BMF title in a rematch against Holloway.
UFC CEO Dana White said Ilia Topuria was now worthy of fighting for Holloway’s BMF title after knocking out Oliveira at UFC 317.
In contrast, UFC commentator Jon Anik mentioned on Submission Radio that Dan Hooker is the ‘most worthy’ contender to fight for Holloway’s BMF title.
Dan Hooker says he’s one fight away from Max Holloway
Hooker made it to the lightweight top-5 in 2019 after going 7-1.
‘Hangman’ went five rounds with the now-retired Dustin Poirier in 2020, in what is considered the best fight in UFC Apex history. Hooker lost a few fights after that, getting back on track with three straight wins.
Hooker proved his BMF mettle in his last two bouts, fight-of-the-year contenders against Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner.
“That’s probably the only fight in terms of the BMF ‘Most worthy’ BMF title contender isn’t so sure Max Holloway fight is next after UFC 318 that kinda makes sense,” Hooker said of a potential fight with Holloway on Submission Radio.
“But, I’ve been sitting on the couch so long,” Hooker admitted, after suffering a broken hand in the lead-up to his cancelled fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 313.
“I’ve been out injured. Fight fans know that. Most people that tune in and watch it, their mind travels very slowly, and I think it’s eight months or something since I fought.
“So I feel like, and speaking with the UFC, [I’m] gonna need to get another [fight] in and take one of these big name guys out and one of these high rank guys out before you’re able to step into a big pay-per-view fight like that,” Hooker said.
“One more…
“Everyone’s just gonna have to be a little bit more patient. I think we’ve got one of these guys’ tough fights, but get one of these guys out of the way. And then, yeah, you got big things coming.
“It’s gonna be either the BMF title or the undisputed title,” said Hooker.
Dan Hooker wants either Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan next
Potentially a fight away from Holloway, the #6-ranked Hooker eyes the rest of the top 5.
Initially scheduled to face Gaethje earlier this year, Hooker recently called out Oliveira, telling the former champion to ‘wake up’ after he got knocked out by Topuria in June.
Hooker also said he’d fight #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, who many believe is deserving of the next title opportunity against Ilia Topuria.
However, a last-minute title fight cancellation for Tsarukyan (injury) at UFC 311 apparently took him out of the title conversation.