January 31, 2025 • 9 mins
UFC Lightweight fight Dan 'The Hangman' Hooker joined D'Arcy to preview his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk Zed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be Hi, Dan, how are I'm very good? What about yourself?
What you're about five weeks away from gatcha? This is
a huge fight for you. There's a lot on the line,
and I'm presuming her in great health.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
I'm tired from all the training they pay me, the
train not to fight Martet.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The training, though hugely necessary. You say you're tired, it's
something you're used to. What's changed in your training that's
exhausted you so much?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Now, I'm always tired now I've been over the last
fifteen years.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
It's something you get used to it.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
What have you been specifically working on ahead of this?
What you've got five weeks before you disappear off state
side for it? Is there any a particular target or
a particular method you've been using.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Oh, it's a fairly straightforward fight. In terms of style.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It is a style that I'm really cuffed the worse
an orthodox striker, heavy hands.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Yeah, it's a fight that I like.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
It's not someone that's going to grab a hold of
me and make it make it boring. It's going to
be a fun fight. Yeah, it's a bit of fireworks
for the fans.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
He said that it's going to be a blood bath.
Just engage. Its kind of right, do you think do
you reckon? I know you love stuff like that. It's
partially why you fight.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
But I anticipate giving directly in the ambulance and going
to the hospital.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Yes, I will, not I will.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I'm not ignorant of the fact that that's probably the
strongest possibility you.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Build a career around that. You don't mind taking one
do It doesn't seem to bother you. It's almost like
you first for it.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh, he's just.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Very like I have a realistic view of the sport.
It's not it's not cricket. You're not going to go
out there and pretend like it's all roses.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
And you're not going to get hurt even when you win.
And when you're win in.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
This war at the highest level, this skill sets that
even you match that we just push, We push each
other to the absolute limits.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
What's it like after the fight, once you've engaged in
all that, does it get any easier to recover?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Do you get used to it? I think you do.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Your body kind of hardened through it, you know, I
do tend to recover quite well from from all the
bangs and scraps and knocks. But yeah, oh, at the
end of the day, if you get injured, it's a
bit of time off, but a holiday time.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
With no training.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
You'd love that, ye love it, Love it mate.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
You've got this fight coming up after your last fight,
you'd be feeling reasonably confident about where you set right
now on the grand scale of the UFC. What he's
setting six lightweight at the moment, coming against third, So
please enough with your progression.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, or three wind streak.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
You get a win here over over one of the
biggest names in the division in a five round contest
on a huge pay per view card, it's going to
put you in one of two guys that are in
the running for the title contention. So it's you know,
this could be last fight for before fighting for a
belt potentially.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
How's the lightweight division looking keenly contested?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah, it's stacked at the top. It's always it's always busy.
We're lucky that we've got two belts in our weight class.
We've got the BMF title and no undisputed titles, so yeah,
nothing's promised in this game. But you know the UFC
have eluded that. You get the win here and you'll
be fighting for one of those titles.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Got to ask, you've been flashing it ink since you
suddenly covered yourself. You got anything new on yourself?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Have you? I haven't been injured?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
No, no, mate, I'm talking about I'm talking.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
About I know, I know, I haven't. I haven't been injured.
I only get Taddy's when I when I.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Okay, let's hope you get no ink for quite some time. Yeah,
stable mats fighting over the weekend. It's the return of Israel.
Where does he sit right now? He's been doing a
bit of work with him, bit of time with him.
How's his head space? How's his body? Because he's got
a new S and C trainer too. Expect a bit
of change there.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Yeah, Bill Down, the Olympic Constitute, has been taking care
of him this time. And yeah, like the last few years,
he's been well. The last few fights, he's been canter,
but a bit of muscle, that's you know, weighted them down,
got a bit more power. But now he's you know,
leaned out because at the end of the day, here's
a volume striker and when he when he gets on
(04:47):
a guy's face and he puts a volume on them,
that's where he tends to have his best. So I
think it's just going to be as well of all
coming back, and.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I'd say once he's got a lot to prove. He's
walked away the number of strips, you know who he is.
But being on a fight night, not being on pay
per view, that's got a sting of we bitch.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh not with the Soudi's line in your pockets. I
don't think it's I don't think it's going to hurt
too much.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
What about your own state, because it's interesting he said
he was carrying a burt and he's a volume striker,
so that's where his power, that's where his money is earned. Yourself,
how much do you fluctuate around what your best condition is?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Oh? Not too heavy?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
No, I actually get a bit heavier when they start
training and lifting weights. I don't really touch him outside
of training camp, really, so no, I don't.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I don't. I don't flux awat too much.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What about your diet? How's that change? Because a number
of fighters, when their diet change along with S and C,
their body shape changes, the stamina and the like as well.
How keenly do you keep? And look at that? And
the same with Israel.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Oh, as he's been on, as he's moved, you knows
as well, has got a chef for following the nutrition plan,
living of them. He's getting all his meals, He's ticking
all the boxes. Me to lose weight, I go, I switch.
I switched from Big Max to cheeseburgers, and that'll bring
my weight down.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Joined by Dan looker, he's on the table right now
getting message. She's joining us to talk about his fight
plenty Israel as well. Let's look at Israel. Do you
reckon he can beat Strickland and drinkers?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Still you reckon?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
It's still within it?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Oh, definitely.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
You can look at the chickist fight like he was doing.
Uh yeah, he always doing really well to you or not.
But I'd say, I'd say this is his opportunity to
prove it, to prove that he belongs to He's fighting
a hungry young contender. I feel like he gets his
hand raised here and he'll be fighting. He'll be back
fighting for that belt before the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Well, what do you know about him?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Evolve?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
What does he bring not.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
A thing, mate, I've never seen the copper throw a
PUNCHA tell you what.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Is their color is?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
But he's going to get but he's going to get whooped,
That's all I know.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I know you've got a massive fan base over here.
It probably expands around the world too, and it's going
to ask the question you probably get asked every half
an hour, when are we going to get a UFC
event here in New Zealand? Come on, when are they
going to give us some love?
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
They got I think they got one more. They've got
to get through in New South.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Wales and they've got to get another one.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
They've got to knock out in Perth potentially later this year,
and then hopefully, hopefully fingers across twenty twenty six, we
bring one back to New Zella.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Wow. And I mean it's fingers cross and it's hopefully.
But the discussions are around you've been pestering DNA.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Not with the amount of tax I have to play
over here, I have not.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
You're very good at me, like I suppose, whittling it
down to the important stuff as well, And I do
like that. Hey, one last thing, what about the rest
of your stable mates? How's City Kickboxing going, how's it developing?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Oh, it's gonna be a busy year. He's got on fighting.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And then Carlos Olberg's got a title eliminator against the
number one contender in March as well. Then Coy Cola
France will we fight? I think he's fighting for the
belt in his next fight, So yeah, potentially we could
have well that's four different guys in title contention. We
could be bringing four titles back to New Zealand by
(08:33):
the end of twenty twenty five. Is that's pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
In text regardless, maybe you get to defend those back
in your backyard and we can all gun take a look,
Maybe whip a hat round so people can cover your text.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
But yeah, they have Chippins Chippins.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And just lastly, around your fan base, when do you
think it is predominantly considering where you spend a lot
of time fighting.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Is it Australia?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Is it New Zealand? You connect much? How do you know?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I've been told my fan base is all cast up Bogans.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
That's why they relate to me so well, because I
myself am the cash lup Bogan.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Well as a man who proudly calls clean heed in
his home. I am a Bogan following as well. I
am not cashed up. That's why I'm still living, clean, heeding.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
And on that.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
We'll get out of here.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Good on you.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Thanks very much, hey man, Hooker go well, look after yourself.
Keep firing those cheeseburgers down you. We look forward to
seeing you in about five weeks time.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
He's Dusty. Thank you mate.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk Zed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be Hi, Dan, how are I'm very good? What about yourself?
What you're about five weeks away from gatcha? This is
a huge fight for you. There's a lot on the line,
and I'm presuming her in great health.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
I'm tired from all the training they pay me, the
train not to fight Martet.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The training, though hugely necessary. You say you're tired, it's
something you're used to. What's changed in your training that's
exhausted you so much?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Now, I'm always tired now I've been over the last
fifteen years.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
It's something you get used to it.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
What have you been specifically working on ahead of this?
What you've got five weeks before you disappear off state
side for it? Is there any a particular target or
a particular method you've been using.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Oh, it's a fairly straightforward fight. In terms of style.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It is a style that I'm really cuffed the worse
an orthodox striker, heavy hands.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Yeah, it's a fight that I like.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
It's not someone that's going to grab a hold of
me and make it make it boring. It's going to
be a fun fight. Yeah, it's a bit of fireworks
for the fans.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
He said that it's going to be a blood bath.
Just engage. Its kind of right, do you think do
you reckon? I know you love stuff like that. It's
partially why you fight.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
But I anticipate giving directly in the ambulance and going
to the hospital.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Yes, I will, not I will.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I'm not ignorant of the fact that that's probably the
strongest possibility you.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Build a career around that. You don't mind taking one
do It doesn't seem to bother you. It's almost like
you first for it.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh, he's just.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Very like I have a realistic view of the sport.
It's not it's not cricket. You're not going to go
out there and pretend like it's all roses.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
And you're not going to get hurt even when you win.
And when you're win in.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
This war at the highest level, this skill sets that
even you match that we just push, We push each
other to the absolute limits.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
What's it like after the fight, once you've engaged in
all that, does it get any easier to recover?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Do you get used to it? I think you do.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Your body kind of hardened through it, you know, I
do tend to recover quite well from from all the
bangs and scraps and knocks. But yeah, oh, at the
end of the day, if you get injured, it's a
bit of time off, but a holiday time.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
With no training.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
You'd love that, ye love it, Love it mate.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
You've got this fight coming up after your last fight,
you'd be feeling reasonably confident about where you set right
now on the grand scale of the UFC. What he's
setting six lightweight at the moment, coming against third, So
please enough with your progression.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, or three wind streak.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
You get a win here over over one of the
biggest names in the division in a five round contest
on a huge pay per view card, it's going to
put you in one of two guys that are in
the running for the title contention. So it's you know,
this could be last fight for before fighting for a
belt potentially.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
How's the lightweight division looking keenly contested?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah, it's stacked at the top. It's always it's always busy.
We're lucky that we've got two belts in our weight class.
We've got the BMF title and no undisputed titles, so yeah,
nothing's promised in this game. But you know the UFC
have eluded that. You get the win here and you'll
be fighting for one of those titles.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Got to ask, you've been flashing it ink since you
suddenly covered yourself. You got anything new on yourself?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Have you? I haven't been injured?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
No, no, mate, I'm talking about I'm talking.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
About I know, I know, I haven't. I haven't been injured.
I only get Taddy's when I when I.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Okay, let's hope you get no ink for quite some time. Yeah,
stable mats fighting over the weekend. It's the return of Israel.
Where does he sit right now? He's been doing a
bit of work with him, bit of time with him.
How's his head space? How's his body? Because he's got
a new S and C trainer too. Expect a bit
of change there.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Yeah, Bill Down, the Olympic Constitute, has been taking care
of him this time. And yeah, like the last few years,
he's been well. The last few fights, he's been canter,
but a bit of muscle, that's you know, weighted them down,
got a bit more power. But now he's you know,
leaned out because at the end of the day, here's
a volume striker and when he when he gets on
(04:47):
a guy's face and he puts a volume on them,
that's where he tends to have his best. So I
think it's just going to be as well of all
coming back, and.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I'd say once he's got a lot to prove. He's
walked away the number of strips, you know who he is.
But being on a fight night, not being on pay
per view, that's got a sting of we bitch.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh not with the Soudi's line in your pockets. I
don't think it's I don't think it's going to hurt
too much.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
What about your own state, because it's interesting he said
he was carrying a burt and he's a volume striker,
so that's where his power, that's where his money is earned. Yourself,
how much do you fluctuate around what your best condition is?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Oh? Not too heavy?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
No, I actually get a bit heavier when they start
training and lifting weights. I don't really touch him outside
of training camp, really, so no, I don't.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I don't. I don't flux awat too much.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What about your diet? How's that change? Because a number
of fighters, when their diet change along with S and C,
their body shape changes, the stamina and the like as well.
How keenly do you keep? And look at that? And
the same with Israel.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Oh, as he's been on, as he's moved, you knows
as well, has got a chef for following the nutrition plan,
living of them. He's getting all his meals, He's ticking
all the boxes. Me to lose weight, I go, I switch.
I switched from Big Max to cheeseburgers, and that'll bring
my weight down.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Joined by Dan looker, he's on the table right now
getting message. She's joining us to talk about his fight
plenty Israel as well. Let's look at Israel. Do you
reckon he can beat Strickland and drinkers?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Still you reckon?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
It's still within it?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Oh, definitely.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
You can look at the chickist fight like he was doing.
Uh yeah, he always doing really well to you or not.
But I'd say, I'd say this is his opportunity to
prove it, to prove that he belongs to He's fighting
a hungry young contender. I feel like he gets his
hand raised here and he'll be fighting. He'll be back
fighting for that belt before the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Well, what do you know about him?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Evolve?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
What does he bring not.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
A thing, mate, I've never seen the copper throw a
PUNCHA tell you what.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Is their color is?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
But he's going to get but he's going to get whooped,
That's all I know.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I know you've got a massive fan base over here.
It probably expands around the world too, and it's going
to ask the question you probably get asked every half
an hour, when are we going to get a UFC
event here in New Zealand? Come on, when are they
going to give us some love?
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
They got I think they got one more. They've got
to get through in New South.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Wales and they've got to get another one.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
They've got to knock out in Perth potentially later this year,
and then hopefully, hopefully fingers across twenty twenty six, we
bring one back to New Zella.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Wow. And I mean it's fingers cross and it's hopefully.
But the discussions are around you've been pestering DNA.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Not with the amount of tax I have to play
over here, I have not.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
You're very good at me, like I suppose, whittling it
down to the important stuff as well, And I do
like that. Hey, one last thing, what about the rest
of your stable mates? How's City Kickboxing going, how's it developing?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Oh, it's gonna be a busy year. He's got on fighting.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And then Carlos Olberg's got a title eliminator against the
number one contender in March as well. Then Coy Cola
France will we fight? I think he's fighting for the
belt in his next fight, So yeah, potentially we could
have well that's four different guys in title contention. We
could be bringing four titles back to New Zealand by
(08:33):
the end of twenty twenty five. Is that's pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
In text regardless, maybe you get to defend those back
in your backyard and we can all gun take a look,
Maybe whip a hat round so people can cover your text.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
But yeah, they have Chippins Chippins.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And just lastly, around your fan base, when do you
think it is predominantly considering where you spend a lot
of time fighting.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Is it Australia?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Is it New Zealand? You connect much? How do you know?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I've been told my fan base is all cast up Bogans.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
That's why they relate to me so well, because I
myself am the cash lup Bogan.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Well as a man who proudly calls clean heed in
his home. I am a Bogan following as well. I
am not cashed up. That's why I'm still living, clean, heeding.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
And on that.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
We'll get out of here.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Good on you.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Thanks very much, hey man, Hooker go well, look after yourself.
Keep firing those cheeseburgers down you. We look forward to
seeing you in about five weeks time.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
He's Dusty. Thank you mate.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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