UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has called out Arman Tsarukyan to a fight at UFC 317. The New Zealander was meant to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 in the co-main event, but was forced to withdrawn from the contest due to a gruesome hand injury.
Dan Hooker Wants Arman Tsarukyan Fight At UFC 317
Dan Hooker was supposed to be fighting Justin Gaethje in the UFC 313 co-main event on Saturday night, but instead remains back home in New Zealand.
The UFC lightweight contender was forced to withdrawn from his clash with Gaethje just a week or two before UFC 313, suffering a hand injury that required surgery.
After missing out on the Gaethje fight, which was sure to be a ‘Fight of the Night’ contender, ‘Hangman’ now has his sights set on some other names on his return to the octagon once his hand has healed and he is able to commence training again.
😳🩸Dan Hooker shares a photo of his hand after surgery
He was supposed to fight just in 3 days.
📸 @danthehangman ▫️ pic.twitter.com/BeqqgY4gUn
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 5, 2025
One man Hooker seems keen to face is Arman Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan is the current #1 contender at 155-pounds, and will need a fight in the coming months after missing out on the Islam Makhachev bout at UFC 311.
Given that Tsarukyan is in need of a fight and is unlikely to receive a UFC Lightweight Title shot with Makhachev next due to the nature of his pull-out, he will likely instead need another win before finally getting his shot at UFC gold.
Dan Hooker has thrown his name into the hat to face Arman Tsarukyan in International Fight Week, eyeing a clash with the #1 155-pound contender at UFC 317.
The fight certainly makes sense, with Hooker currently ranked at #6 at lightweight. He would likely go into a proposed match-up with Tsarukyan as the underdog with the best UFC betting sites, but it is definitely a fight the New Zealander wants badly.
Hooker on Tsarukyan: ‘I’d Like To Fight Him When I Come Back’
In a recent interview with Sky Sports New Zealand, Dan Hooker pulled no punched in his call-out of Arman Tsarukyan. The New Zealander is evidently keen on a fight with the Armenian-Russian, with UFC 317 his target date for the potential lightweight clash.
UFC President Dana White could well grand Hooker his wish and throw him in with Tsarukyan in International Fight Week. However, it all depends on how quickly Hooker’s hand heals and also when Arman Tsarukyan will be ready to fight next.
The #6 UFC lightweight contender is evidently trying to attract Tsarukyan’s attention, insulting him and calling his bluff following his UFC 311 pull-out against Islam Makhachev.
Dan Hooker calls out Arman Tsarukyan to a fight at #UFC317 👀
“He does an interview with Nina Drama where he’s actually creeping on her…
International Fight Week, I’ll kick Arman right in the monobrow.”
🎥 @skysportnz #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/OrEZeszFdh
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 6, 2025
“He come at me this week. If you go back, he does an interview with Nina Drama where he’s actually creeping on her. Like it’s weird and a lot of people don’t know that her husband is the camera man as well which makes it even more creepy.
“You think just that because your dad is rich and you’re a UFC fighter, this woman is going to cheat on her husband in front of you?
“Like, this kid is unreal bro but, another loss for him. I’d like to fight him when I come back, International Fight Week. I’ll kick Arman right in the monobrow. He waxes it, we all know that. Let it grow out son,” said Hooker.
Whether or not a fight materialises between the pair remains to be seen, but Dan Hooker is certainly going out of his way to build a rivalry and push for a fight with the #1 lightweight contender.
Be sure to claim the various UFC betting offers and free bet deals available on the SportsCasting site ahead of Dan Hooker’s next fight.
