Hooker On Topuria Avoiding Nurmagomedov Bout

Dan Hooker does not believe Ilia Topuria would take a fight with Usman Nurmagomedov if the undefeated Russian signs with the UFC.

Hooker meets former KSW champion Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris on September 5 and told Submission Radio he is willing to welcome Nurmagomedov to the Octagon if the promotion offers him enough money. The New Zealander dismissed speculation about a potential matchup between Nurmagomedov and featherweight champion Topuria, saying the Georgian would never risk his standing against an unranked newcomer.

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Hooker Positions Himself As Nurmagomedov's UFC Welcome

"Who's a better welcoming party? It was the same thing with Chandler; it's the same thing with this Parnasse guy and it will be the same thing with Usman," Hooker said. "No one else will take the fight. People are like, 'Usman's gonna come in and fight Ilia Topuria.' Be serious, you think Ilia Topuria is gonna take the risk of fighting an unranked, non-UFC fighter?"

Nurmagomedov recently became a free agent after his PFL contract expired. The Dagestani lightweight holds a 22-0 record and is reportedly drawing strong interest from the UFC. Hooker previously welcomed former Bellator champion Michael Chandler to the promotion in a losing effort.

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Hooker said most ranked lightweights would avoid the risky assignment and positioned himself as the natural choice if the UFC compensates him accordingly. "None of these other guys in the division want to risk it for the biscuit," he said. "So, they call up Dan Hooker; they offer him a bit of danger money and he welcomes these boys to the big leagues."

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Dan Hooker doubts Ilia Topuria would risk Usman Nurmagomedov fight