Hooker On Gatekeeper Label Before UFC Paris

Dan Hooker has made peace with his gatekeeper reputation heading into UFC Paris.

The lightweight veteran meets promotional newcomer Salahdine Parnasse in Saturday's main event, where he enters as a +420 underdog against the -650 favorite, according to BJPenn.com. Hooker, who carries a 24-14 record into the bout, told reporters at media day he accepts his current position just outside the lightweight top 10 — but views it as temporary.

One Win Changes Everything For Hooker

"I'm more than happy to play the role that I'm in right now and the role that I'm in right now is gatekeeping the top 10 of the UFC's lightweight division," Hooker said, per the report. "The beauty of the sport is it can change in one single night."

Hooker is riding back-to-back stoppage losses — a submission defeat to Arman Tsarukyan followed by a TKO loss to Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 325 in February. But he believes an impressive showing against Parnasse, who is making his UFC debut in a rare headlining spot for a first-timer, would vault him back into contention and earn him a ranked opponent next.

Despite the long odds, Hooker said he plans to silence the Paris crowd and prove his spot in the division is far from cemented. A win on Saturday would mark his first since moving back into the title picture.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Dan Hooker details why he’s fine being viewed as a gatekeeper going into UFC Paris: ‘Can change in one single night’