Dan Hooker Record: 24-14-0

Lightweight contender

The move paid off immediately. Hooker knocked out Ross Pearson with a knee in 2017, submitted unbeaten prospect Marc Diakiese, then opened 2018 with knee and punch knockouts of veterans Jim Miller and future welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns. A 2018 body-shot KO loss to Edson Barboza only set up his best stretch: a stunning 2019 knockout of James Vick and a decision over Al Iaquinta that pushed him into the top 10.

The war years

Hooker became must-see television in a brutal run of marquee fights. He edged Paul Felder in a five-round Fight of the Year contender in early 2020, then lost a classic five-round battle to former interim champion Dustin Poirier. Tough nights followed against Michael Chandler and, after a win over Nasrat Haqparast, a 2021 first-round submission loss to future champion Islam Makhachev. A 2022 loss to Arnold Allen at featherweight prompted a return to lightweight.

Veteran resurgence

Back at 155 pounds, Hooker reinvented himself, stopping Claudio Puelles in 2022, edging Jalin Turner in 2023, and pulling off a major upset over wrestler Mateusz Gamrot in 2024 to cement himself in the rankings. The grind eventually caught up — a 2025 submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan and a 2026 TKO loss to Benoit Saint-Denis — but his late-career run reaffirmed his standing as a perennial lightweight contender.

Fighting style

Hooker is one of the most complete and aggressive fighters at lightweight, with a 75% finish rate split across 11 knockouts and 7 submissions among his 24 wins. He uses his length and a varied muay Thai arsenal — knees, head kicks and crisp boxing — while his City Kickboxing-honed jiu-jitsu makes him dangerous in scrambles. He is renowned for his toughness and his willingness to engage in firefights, which has produced unforgettable wars but also exposed him: 4 of his 14 losses are by knockout and 4 by submission, a reflection of the high-risk, high-reward style that has made him a fan favorite.

Career highlights

• Upset of an elite wrestler — outpointed Mateusz Gamrot in 2024 in a career-defining contender’s win.
• Action-fight pedigree — his five-round battles with Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier are among the era’s most memorable.
• Two-way finisher — 18 of his 24 wins by stoppage, balanced almost evenly between knockouts and submissions.