TLDR
- Dan Hooker says he doesn’t take retirement questions personally after two consecutive losses
- Hooker lost to Benoit Saint Denis in February, ending his three-fight winning streak
- He will face UFC newcomer Salahdine Parnasse in Paris in September
- Hooker previously lost to Michael Chandler at UFC 157 and took years to rebuild his standing
- The fighter admitted to mistakes in training camps, including drinking daily during preparation
Sources: yardbarker.com | boxingnews.com
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker says he doesn’t take it personally when people question whether he should still be fighting at the highest level. The 34-year-old New Zealand fighter addressed concerns about his career future just one week before being booked for the UFC Paris main event in September.
Hooker suffered his second straight loss in February when Benoit Saint Denis stopped him. The defeat came after Hooker had been on a three-fight winning streak that had restored his position in the lightweight division.
Hooker Defends Fans’ Right to Question Fighters
Speaking with She Loves The Gloves, Hooker explained that he views retirement questions as a natural part of fighting. He said fighters shouldn’t receive special treatment just because they’ve built up a reputation.
“You take a couple of losses, you gotta prove your spot in the division,” Hooker said. “You gonna sit there and take it personal or offended? It’s just a natural life cycle of a fighter and I feel like people should ask questions.”
Hooker continued: “I feel like you take a couple of losses, people should start questioning, ‘Should he be facing this level of competition? Should he be looking to hang it up?’ Because what are we gonna do? Let a guy get his a– kicked like ten times and everyone goes, ‘Yeah, credit to you, still a legend.'”
The fighter has also been open about mistakes he made during his recent training camps. Earlier this year, Hooker admitted to coasting in preparation and even drinking every day during one camp.
ARMAN TSARUKYAN SUBMITS DAN HOOKER IN ROUND 2 👏 #UFCQATAR pic.twitter.com/0FVqeeTuWm
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 22, 2025
Hooker Set to Welcome Another UFC Newcomer
Hooker will face Salahdine Parnasse in September at UFC Paris in what will be Parnasse’s Octagon debut. The French fighter is a marquee signing who will compete in front of his home crowd.
This isn’t the first time Hooker has welcomed a highly-touted new fighter to the UFC. At UFC 157, Michael Chandler stopped Hooker in the first round before going on to fight for the vacant lightweight title.
It took Hooker several years to rebuild his standing in the division after that loss. Now he finds himself in a similar position against Parnasse.
The UFC commonly matches veteran fighters against rising stars. A win for the newcomer against a well-known opponent can provide a strong start to their UFC career.
Hooker will be fighting in enemy territory when he steps into the Octagon in Paris. The odds appear stacked against him, but he has bounced back from difficult stretches before.
The New Zealand fighter’s recent string of losses followed a period where he had re-established himself as one of the top names in the 155-pound weight class. His upcoming fight against Parnasse will determine whether he can maintain his position near the top of the lightweight division.
