Dan Hooker Thinks Ilia Topuria is Following Conor McGregor’s Path
During an appearance on Submission Radio, Dan Hooker expressed his belief that Ilia Topuria is doing everything he can to generate buzz around himself, much like Conor McGregor has done over the years.
"Just classic sh*t,” Hooker remarked. “It’s pretty evident that he’s just working off McGregor’s playbook and line one of McGregor’s playbook is just like keep your name in the headlines. So, like, that’s all that I kind of see from it is Topuria keeping his name in headlines. The guy doesn’t fight that often. I think he just fights Volk sometime next year, March, April.”
When asked about Topuria possibly abandoning a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in favor of a bout with Charles Oliveira, Hooker responded with humor.
“Bro, well then don’t get in the fcking cage with him and agree to fight him, dckhead,” Hooker said with a laugh. “You let him get in the cage, you had a face-off with him, and you said you’d fight him. Bro, man to man, that’s that. You’ve agreed, you already agreed to a fight. How are you going to back out of it now?”
What unfolds next with Topuria is uncertain. Current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has shown more inclination towards moving up to the welterweight division than engaging in a fight with Topuria. Only time will reveal if their paths will intersect in the future.
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