Dan Hooker calls for scrap with “stupidest guy in the division” Justin Gaethje

New Zealand lightweight Dan Hooker is now on an impressive three-fight win-streak, and he’s hoping to be rewarded for this success with a big step up in competition. In particular, he’s hoping to fight former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who he considers “the stupidest guy in the division.”

Hooker made his callout of Gaethje on a recent episode of Submission Radio. Here’s what he had to say about the former WSOF champ:

“He’s like the stupidest guy in the weight class,” Hooker said (transcribed by Jesse Holland for MMAMania). “He’s wild, he says he’s not gonna develop his game, he’s gonna continue to fight like that. He’s got a couple of fights left in his career if he keeps fighting like that. You can’t stand there with the best guys in the world and fight like that. Like, you’re just gonna get put to sleep. So I just feel like it’s a good time get him now. In a couple of fights his name won’t be worth that much. But if he must insist on it, I’d like to be the one to take him out.”

Hooker’s most recent win came at the expense of lightweight veteran Jim Miller, who he put down with a brutal knee in the first round of their UFC Atlantic City scrap. This win was preceded by a third-round submission of Marc Diakiese, and a second round knockout of British veteran Ross Pearson.

Gaethje, meanwhile, has lost his last two bouts, both by knockout. The first of these knockouts was dealt by former UFC and Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez, while the most recent was authored by Dustin Poirier in a 2018 Fight of the Year Contender. These losses were preceded by a perfect 18-0 start to his career, included an impressive defeat of Michael Johnson in his anticipated UFC debut.

Does a fight between Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje interest you?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/27/2018.