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UFC: Dan Hooker says he’s ‘the only option’ for Dustin Poirier ‘unless he wants to wait around’

  • ‘The Hangman’ thinks Justin Gaethje is tied up with Conor McGregor – ‘that leaves Poirier with no opponent’
  • ‘I’ve now got a nice high number, which he likes and he’s paying me a bit of attention’

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Dustin Poirier during an open workout in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Reuters

Lightweight Dan Hooker is about to make his way to the bright lights of Las Vegas with a clear, two-pronged agenda – support his good mate and training partner Israel Adesanya in his title defence against Yoel Romero at UFC 248, and pick a fight himself.

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“The Hangman” is fresh off one of the best performances of his career, beating Paul Felder in a razor-close split decision at a partisan UFC Auckland a fortnight ago.

The win propelled Hooker inside the division’s top five rankings for the first time, rarefied air where no fighter is beyond a call-out, and he already has his sights firmly set on his next target.

Former champion Dustin Poirier shapes as his most likely next opponent and Hooker has already begun planting the seeds on social media.

Hooker asked Poirier in a tweet if he “could see me now?”, to which the American responded “I got 25 minutes for you”, referring to a five-round main event.

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