When the UFC came calling to ask Dan Hooker to fight in a main event in Paris against a local favorite making his debut, the veteran lightweight didn't blink and immediately said yes.
Hooker has never avoided enemy territory when it comes to his fights and he had an itchy feeling the UFC knew he was the one person ranked in the top 15 at lightweight who wouldn't turn down that opportunity. His opponent Salahdine Parnassse isn't a household name by any means but he held titles in two divisions while competing in KSW and the French fans definitely love and support him.
In fact, the fanbase in France adores Parnasse so much that as soon as the fight got announced, Hooker started getting bombarded with messages on social media including more than a few that came across as death threats. Now that might seem a little severe for a UFC fight but it really didn't bother Hooker all that much, especially knowing he'd get to keep those receipts for his post-fight celebration when he wins on Saturday.
“I like that,†Hooker told MMA Fighting. “Get your bits in before the fight. Hindsight is 20/20. Anyone can be right in retrospect. It happens to come back and shoot your shit. After the fight? Nah! Make your call. Get your Mystic Mac.â€
That said, Hooker admits that after he first spoke about the death threats coming from some French fans, he actually received more than a few messages welcoming him to the country wih enthusiasm that he accepted the matchup and the main event at UFC Paris.
“Since I did say that, I've had a lot of French fans reaching out to me and say that they're just excited for the fight and they're excited that I'm making the trip out there,†Hooker said. “I've had a lot of people just reach out and kind of apologize for the death threats and they're excited for me to come over and put on a show.
“I don't even feel like I'm walking into hostile territory. I feel like there will be a lot of people excited for the fight.â€
While death threats should always be taken seriously, Hooker isn't losing any sleep over those kinds of messages because ultimately his job comes down to one thing — beating Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris.
The fans who chose to write those nasty messages can yell, scream and boo him all they want once he walks out to the octagon but Hooker knows not a single one of them can actually help Parnasse in the fight.
“Whether they love me or hate me, I couldn't care less,†Hooker said. “I feed off the energy entirely. At the end of the day, there ain't nothing anybody can do about it. He could have 10 or 20,000 people in there who want to kill me.
“Ain't nothing they can do but shut the f*ck up and eat their popcorn and watch me beat their boy. That's all they've got in store.â€
Hooker also acknowledges that even though this is Parnasse's debut in the UFC, this is by far the biggest opportunity of his young career and that's going to put a lot of pressure on him.
Throughout his own UFC career, Hooker has felt the highest of highs and the lowest of lows so this kind of matchup is nothing new for him. But the same can't be said for Parnasse, who has never felt the bright lights and the intense scrutiny that comes along with headlining a major UFC card.
“He's the one out here with something to prove,†Hooker said. “I've just got to shut up this no-name kid. That's easy for me.â€
Raoni
Barcelos says medical testing has yet to determine why he lost
consciousness during his
Ultimate Fighting Championship headliner against Raul Rosas
Jr.
Barcelos faced Rosas Jr. in the main event of
UFC Vegas 121 last month. The Brazilian led on the judges'
scorecards entering the fifth round but lost consciousness during a
grappling exchange against the fence. Rosas Jr. was awarded a
technical knockout victory, and the 39-year-old Barcelos was
transported to a Level 1 trauma center.
Raoni Barcelos undergoes medical tests after losing
consciousness against Raul Rosas Jr. at UFC Vegas 121
Barcelos said he is undergoing tests in Las Vegas to determine what
happened. He hopes to continue fighting but has not ruled out
retirement.
“Unfortunately, we don't know what happened,†Barcelos told MMA
Fighting. “It was a sudden illness. I fell ill and I felt my whole
body really starting to go numb. After that, I don't remember
anything. I only remember [arriving] in the ambulance, asking my
father what happened, and him trying to explain it as best as he
could. It really was an unfortunate [circumstance]. I got sick and
to this day we still don't understand. I'm undergoing a battery of
tests here in [Las] Vegas. I had another on Monday and we're
waiting for a good result. The doctor hasn't released the results
yet and everything is being kept confidential. But I feel better
every day.â€
Barcelos (22-6) entered the bout on a five-fight winning streak. He
has competed in the UFC since 2018, compiling an 11-5 promotional
record with victories over Said
Nurmagomedov, Cody
Garbrandt and Payton
Talbott.
Raoni
Barcelos is still waiting for a diagnosis after his mysterious
health scare: “We don't know what happened. It was a sudden
illness. I fell ill, and I felt my whole body really starting to go
numb. After that, I don't remember anything.” (🎥 @guicruzzz)
https://t.co/dVJzTkkBkl
Darren Till gets honest about his performance in win over Yoel Romero
Jasmine Jasudavicius is looking to cement herself as a title contender at UFC Edmonton.
Jasudavicius is set to take on Erin Blanchfield in the co-main event of UFC Edmonton. Jasudavicius enters the bout as a +255 underdog while the American is a -350 favorite on FanDuel. The fight was supposed to happen at UFC 330 in August, but an injury to Blanchfield delayed it to August. Although the Canadian was frustrated to have the fight postponed, she is ecstatic for it to be taking place in Edmonton now.
“That is exactly it. It was like two weeks out that I heard it was being moved,†Jasudavicius said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “Initially, I was so frustrated because I just put in a whole camp. I was ready, my weight was good, and I was firing on all cylinders. It got moved, and at least we are fighting in Canada now. This works out even better.â€
With extra time, Jasudavicius said she did take some time off to avoid burnout. But she also feels like the extra time will only help her, as she knows Blanchfield is one of the best in the world.
“She's talented; she's one of the top fighters in the world. I won't be talking too much shit. She's skilled, but I know how skilled I am, and I am ready to test myself against the best girls in the world,†Jasudavicius said.
Jasmine Jasudavicius hopeful to earn title shot at UFC Edmonton
Although Jasudavicius is an underdog, she has full confidence in her skillset. She believes she is better on the feet. So, she expects Blanchfield to try and wrestle her a ton, especially once she lands a couple of punches.
If Jasudavicius can turn Blanchfield into just a wrestler, she is confident she will be able to pull off the upset win at UFC Edmonton.
“I'm not too sure. I've watched all of her fights, and it's not like she's going to the wrestling right away; she is comfortable with striking. But I do think once she feels these hands, she will be shooting a little bit more. … My hand will be raised at the end of the night,†Jasudavicius said.
If Jasudavicius gets her hand raised, she believes it will cement her as a title contender at flyweight. And, it would set up a rematch with Natalia Silva, which the Canadian would be thrilled to get the chance to not only avenge her loss, but to take the belt off her.
“It would mean a lot; it's a big milestone,†Jasudavicius concluded. “Just getting into the UFC is a big deal; getting 10 fights in the UFC is a big deal; to get 10 wins is another feather in my cap. … That would be my dream. She gave me the lost which hurt, so if I can take the belt off her, it would fulfill me. I show well, say I finish Blanchfield, it would be me in the talks to get a title shot.â€
Do you think Jasmine Jasudavicius will beat Erin Blanchfield at UFC Edmonton?
I know a lot of folks are looking ahead to UFC 333 next weekend, but up here in CANADA we're stoked for UFC Edmonton this Saturday, headlined by Joaquin Buckley vs. Mike Malott.
OK, “stoked†might be overselling it a tad, but this card is not for you hosers! It's Canada vs. The World, with a ton of pressure on Malott to prove he's the real deal after being handed a top-10 opponent in Buckley. Time to deliver.