Manager Ali Abdelaziz thinks Dan Hooker is only stepping in to fight Islam Makhachev for the chance at a big paycheck.
Hooker (21-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) has accepted the call to replace an injured Rafael dos Anjos against Makhachev (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) on Oct. 30 at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi, and with New Zealand’s strict quarantine rules because of COVID-19, Hooker’s return home is now indefinite.
Not only is Hooker stepping in on short notice against one of the division’s least sought-out fighters, but he accepted the offer just days after defeating Nasrat Haqparast on Sept. 25 at UFC 266. While Abdelaziz respects Hooker’s willingness to make a quick turnaround, he believes “The Hangman” has bit off way more than he can chew.
“It seems like people are more interested in this fight than Rafael dos Anjos fight, and Rafael is a former champion,” Abdelaziz, the CEO of Dominance MMA, told MMA Junkie. “I don’t know why, but listen, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who you’re gonna put in there. If I have to rank Islam today in the pound-for-pound list, I promise you he’s top five pound for pound. I believe he will be one of the greatest UFC fighters we’ve ever seen. I’ve been training with Islam for seven years. I see him beating DC (Daniel Cormier) around, beating Luke (Rockhold), giving Khabib his toughest rounds. I believe he’s something special. I believe he’s destined to be a world champion, and people can say whatever they want about him. They know in their heart and soul that he’s the toughest fight they can ever get.
“Much respect to Hooker, they can say whatever they want. He’s showing up for a payday, and I respect Hooker a lot. He’s a nice guy. I respect him as a fighter, too, but he can say whatever he wants, his coaches can say whatever they want, he’s getting paid to show up. The only way he can win is a lucky punch. Islam beats people every second of a fight. Islam is never vulnerable in a fight. People are going to say, ‘Oh, he’s boring, he’s this, he’s that.’ They said this about Khabib for a long time. Khabib is pound-for-pound the greatest fighter to ever live on this planet.”
Although Makhachev has won his past eight fights, including back-to-back submission finishes of Drew Dober and Thiago Moises, Abdelaziz thinks people are yet to see the best of him.
“You have not seen relaxed Islam Makhachev yet,” Abdelaziz said. “Little by little, he’s getting more relaxed and more loose. But I’m gonna tell you, loose Islam will beat some of the guys in the top five in the welterweight division, too, and he’ll beat some guys in the middleweight division, too. He is this good.
“We know, the media knows, the UFC knows, Sean Shelby knows, Dana White knows. They know how good Islam is. But Islam, he needs to talk more. He’s not as charismatic as Khabib is. He’s a sweet human being, he’s a nice guy, but he’s tired of this. When we sit down and talk with Islam, he’s the funniest, he’s got charisma, but he gets a little shy in front of the camera, and I’m going to push him.”