Dan Hooker is now a battle promoter.
This previous weekend, Hooker expanded on his fight sports activities resume by getting into the world of battle promotion, internet hosting a single-elimination tremendous heavyweight match in his yard. The bout consisted of 32 fighters battling it out in 60-second boxing matches with MMA gloves, competing to win the $50,000 grand prize. The occasion led to some nasty knockouts as well as some controversy, and talking with The MacLife on Tuesday, Hooker defined the way it all got here to cross.
“I used to be simply at a Thailand occasion,” Hooker defined. “I received introduced over to only sort of host. I had nothing to do with organizing it, or matching it, or getting the fighters, and I noticed the format of 32 fighters and methods to win — one-minute fights — and I assumed an excellent heavyweight occasion in New Zealand could be completely unimaginable. After which three fights into it, I used to be standing there and I stated, ‘I knew this is able to be a good suggestion.’”
Whereas Hooker has already launched some highlights on social media, he intends to drop your entire occasion quickly for individuals to look at all of the 1 Minute Scraps, and he’s very happy with how all the things labored out.
“It ran clean. Not a single challenge,” Hooker stated. “We knocked out 30 fights in an hour. No severe accidents. We had one fighter harm his arm punching another person, and that was essentially the most severe harm we had for the day. So everybody received house to their household protected. …
“In fact I had judges, in fact I had medics. In fact, I had medics who checked all of the boys and had that every one cleared, had all the fitting issues in the fitting locations. And everybody did an unimaginable job. …
“We had the foundations checked and cleared, we requested the fitting those who wanted to be requested, and I knew that after the occasion, I must reply to the fight sports activities neighborhood in New Zealand.
“In fact, I had all these issues in place. The matchmaking — 32 guys, the vary of abilities … There have been enormous discrepancies coming into the match. I feel the lightest coming into the match was 95 kilos, and the heaviest was 205 kilos, so clearly they’ll’t battle one another. You match them within the first spherical, much like weights, so by the point it goes up, you’re getting skilled, skillful fighters, the weights develop into lots nearer to one another. And going into it, skilled guys combating skilled guys, much less skilled guys, or greater guys combating the larger guys.”
This was Hooker’s first foray into the world of battle promotion, which has develop into an more and more in style aspect gig for distinguished MMA fighters. Fighters like Mike Perry, Jorge Masvidal, and Khabib Nurmagomedov have all began their very own battle promotions. However although he says he intends to do that once more, Hooker additionally says this isn’t one thing he’s going to remain targeted on long run, however merely a distraction for him as he recovers from a hand harm.
“Yep, we’ll do one other one,” Hooker stated when requested if there could be a second occasion. “For that, we’ll take into account a North Island occasion, after which we plan on doing an occasion within the South Island.
“We’ll see. I’m not a promoter, I’m a fighter. I did it as a result of I’m injured. And it was an unimaginable thought. These boys are extremely skillful. They’re some massive models, they’re some very harmful males on the market.”
TOP STORIES
Arrested. B.J. Penn arrested twice on charges of abuse of family or household member; Penn posts disturbing video displaying arrest.
Restraining Order. B.J. Penn’s mom files for restraining order towards UFC legend, claims ‘excessive psychological abuse.’
Stockton. Nate Diaz slams Bo Nickal, Justin Gaethje, and new technology of fighters speaking smack to him: ‘B*tch, f*ck you.’
Corridor of Fame. Michael Bisping: Vitor Belfort ‘can stick his Hall of Fame up his ass,’ however acknowledges he deserves the glory.
Reflection. Chuck Liddell reflects on 20-year anniversary of first UFC title win, names ‘actual fighter’ from right this moment’s MMA.
Grappling. Henry Cejudo tops ex-ONE champion in grappling match in Kazakhstan.
Outcomes. The Final Fighter 33: Daniel Cormier vs. Chael Sonnen Episode 1 results.
VIDEO STEW
The Final Fighter teaser.
Michael Bisping and Paul Felder speak to Merab Dvalishvili.
DC and Ben Askren speaking Jon Jones.
Fights.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
A number of the highlights from the Dan Hooker Invitational.
Mike Perry and Sean Strickland sparring.
And Darren Till having fun about it.
Additionally, rattling. That looks like approach longer than seven years in the past.
7 years in the past right this moment one of many proudest moments of my life.
Strolling out to a bought out Echo Enviornment Liverpool to battle for the #1 contender spot within the UFC towards top-of-the-line strikers on the time, Stephen (Wonderboy) Thompson.
I’ll always remember this present day & I do know I’ll have… pic.twitter.com/PnATRJR58V— DT (@darrentill2) May 27, 2025
Consider the youngsters, Kayla!
Glenn by leaping the gilly.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Curtis (31-12, 1 NC) vs. Max Griffin (20-11); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Lauren Murphy (16-6) vs. Eduarda Moura (11-1); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Jake Matthews (21-7) vs. Chidi Njokuani (25-10, 1 NC); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Junior Tafa (6-3) vs. Tuco Tokkos (10-5); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Ateba Gautier (7-1) vs. Robert Valentin (11-5, 1 NC); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Vitor Petrino (11-2) vs. Austen Lane (13-6, 1 NC); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Fatima Kline (7-1) vs. Melissa Martinez (8-1); UFC Nashville, July 12.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Did y’all know {that a} overwhelming majority of MMA fighter social media is now nearly solely political retweets or hawking some crypto factor? I’m utterly on board with fighters as a substitute internet hosting semi-legal battle tournaments of their yard if it implies that’s what social media goes to be for as a substitute. That’s approach cooler.
EXIT POLL
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