Dan Hooker has been absent from the octagon for nearly a year following a split-decision victory over Jalin Turner at UFC 290 last July, during which he broke his arm. He was slated to return against Bobby Green at UFC on ESPN 52 in December but suffered another arm break just weeks before the fight. Now, he’s eyeing a comeback at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia this August.
In a recent appearance on Sky Sports New Zealand, the No. 11-ranked lightweight expressed his excitement about potentially fighting on the same card as Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France. Hooker revealed that while he couldn’t secure an opponent for the McGregor card in June (UFC 303), he’s aiming to make his return in Perth. He hinted at having a potential opponent in mind but kept the details under wraps for the time being.
While it’s expected that Adesanya will face Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title at UFC 305, Hooker and Kara-France are still awaiting official opponents. Both fighters are coming back from injuries after more than a year of inactivity.
In the lightweight division, Benoit Saint Denis, ranked No. 13, expressed openness to facing Hooker after suffering his first career loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Saint Denis stated his willingness to fight anyone in the top 15, including Hooker.
He emphasized his preference for facing opponents with higher rankings and noted his interest in a bout with Arman Tsarukyan, though he acknowledged the likelihood of that happening is low. Saint Denis also mentioned his desire to compete when the UFC returns to Paris in September, although it remains uncertain if he will compete at UFC 305, just six weeks prior.
The potential matchup between Hooker and Saint Denis adds intrigue to the lightweight division, with both fighters eager to climb the rankings and make a statement in their respective returns to the octagon.
