Dan Hooker: UFC should let Conor McGregor box instead of MMA

Dan Hooker believes Conor McGregor should hang up his four-ounce gloves and pursue boxing full-time after the former two-division champion suffered a catastrophic knee injury just 67 seconds into his UFC 329 bout against Max Holloway.

McGregor threw a jumping switch kick as the opening bell rang, and his leg buckled on landing. The referee waved off the fight before the first minute elapsed, leaving 20,000 fans booing at the Las Vegas arena. Hooker told Submission Radio the injury might be a blessing in disguise for McGregor, who has two fights remaining on his UFC contract. "He got rid of one of them without really getting punched in the head at all," Hooker said, per MMA Mania. "So I can't say that's the end of the world for him."

McGregor's path to Zuffa Boxing and $100 million paydays

The New Zealander pointed out that McGregor has long expressed interest in boxing, where purses reach nine figures. "The boxers out there are getting $100 million," Hooker said. "So does this hurt that? I don't think it does at all, right? I feel like we're just as excited to see Conor McGregor box one of these big name guys for $100 million as we were before that fight." Boxing causes less wear on joints and ligaments than mixed martial arts, even if head trauma accumulates over twelve-round fights, Hooker argued.

Zuffa Boxing, the UFC's sister promotion, could provide a landing spot. Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh has publicly pursued McGregor for boxing matches, including a proposed fight with Terrence Crawford. Hooker concluded that forcing McGregor through another MMA camp makes little sense when his body keeps breaking down. "Maybe his body can't hold up in the MMA space," he said. "And they should just let him box and earn some crazy money in his last couple of years of fighting."

McGregor has not commented on Hooker's remarks. His next medical evaluation is expected within six weeks.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Dan Hooker wants UFC to let Conor McGregor box: ‘His body can’t hold up in MMA’