‘Want to kick the kid’s head’: UFC veteran’s wild war of words as ugly feud with ‘sloppy’ star rolls on

Dan Hooker didn’t mince words about Paddy Pimblett’s title fight with Justin Gaethje over the weekend, labelling the performance “sloppy” – before declaring he still wants to kick the Brit’s “head in”.

The 35-year-old Kiwi lightweight returns this weekend as the co-main event of UFC 325 in Sydney against Benoit Saint Denis.

UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 | SUN 1 FEB 1PM AEDT | For the first time in his storied career, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his championship in his home city of Sydney, in a rematch with Brazil’s Diego Lopes. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Hooker landed in Sydney on Sunday afternoon during the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324, saw the closing rounds – and was far from impressed.

“It’s hard to look good in the fourth and fifth round, but it wasn’t the most technical fight,” Hooker told Fox Sports Australia.

“Just because commentators say that it’s a great fight doesn’t mean it is.

“It’s literally their job to make you feel like that’s the most exciting fight they’ve ever seen in their lives.

“I don’t listen to commentary when I’m watching a fight – I’ll follow the fight.

“For me, it was a sloppy fight, so I can’t say that it was a barnburner.”

Hooker has been embroiled in an ugly war of words with Pimblett on social media ever since the Scouser claimed: “Dan Hooker couldn’t grapple a f*****g r***** off his ma.”

Since then the pair have agreed that they will scrap if they ever cross paths in public.

Gaethje dominated ‘The Baddy’ for long stretches on Sunday, leaving the Brit a bloody mess. And while Hooker admitted he was pleased to see Pimblett beaten, he said he took no joy in watching him get battered.

“I’m not a cuck,” he explained.

“I want to kick him in the head. Watching Justin Gaethje punch him doesn’t do anything for me.

“I didn’t inflict any of that damage.

“Was I happy that Gaethje won? Yes, because if Paddy won I wouldn’t be getting my hands on him for a long time.

“Did I enjoy watching him go to war and get damaged and dropped? Nah.”

The animosity between Pimblett and Hooker has laid the groundwork for a huge fight in the future, but Hooker says he’s not chasing that fight just yet.

“Of course I want to fight him,” said Hooker.

“I want to find absolutely anyone ranked above me.

“Am I going to shoot myself in the foot over it? No, if a better opportunity came up, say for a BMF title or anything like that, I’m not gonna hold a grudge to a point where it negatively impacts me.

“Do I want to kick the kid’s head? Of course I do. Am I gonna f**k up a title shot for it? There’s no way.

“He’s gonna be sitting out for a few months. He’s gonna be sitting out for six months, I think.

“Say I get out of this fight unscathed, I’m gonna want to get back in there quick. I’m not gonna sit around and wait for him – because then he wins.”

For now, Hooker’s attention is firmly on his next opponent, Saint Denis, who has finished his past three fights, including a brutal 15-second knockout of Beneil Dariush at UFC 322.

Known as “God of War”, Saint Denis has a background in the French Army Special Forces and a reputation for relentless pressure – a trait Hooker knows all too well.

“He’s a guy whose best attributes are his grim determination,” smiled Hooker.

“We’re very similar in that way.

“When you got two fighters that rely on just being tougher than the other bloke – you’ve got the makings for a firefight.”

When asked how he sees it playing out, Hooker didn’t pause.

“I think it will be a war,” he said.

“But I just think I’m better than him. He’s gonna bite down at some stage and try to take me out.

“But, I’ll be too sharp. Just too sharp.

“I feel like I’m just gonna beat him up, touch him up in the later rounds.

“But It’ll definitely get to a war at some stage.”

At Hooker’s City Kickboxing gym, he has earned the reputation of a “gym psycho,” pushing himself – and often his training partners – to the absolute limit.

It’s a label he wears with pride.

“The thing about being crazy is that you think you’re normal,” he grinned.

“It’s everyone else’s problem.”