Dan Hooker

By FCF Staff

Following Dan Hooker’s loss to Michael Chandler at UFC 257, he prompted speculation that he might be retiring, after taking off his gloves in the cage. But, the lightweight contender’ confirmed he’s not wrapping up his career.

Hooker faced Chandler in the co-main event of the recent event and was stopped by the former Bellator champ in the opening rounds. Since Hooker left his gloves in the Octagon afterward, some wondered if the 30-year-old might be retiring.

But, in a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker confirmed he was just extremely frustrated when he took off his gloves (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“You’re always frustrated after a loss,” Hooker explained. “(It was) a balance of everything. Sheer frustration, you’re disappointed, and in that moment I was like, ‘I’m done! (Laughs) I’m finished with this sh*tty sport! I’m done!’ Then you get back to the hotel and you think about it and you realize you’re not good at anything else either, so it’s like well (laughs), “I’ve kind of painted myself into a bit of a corner here.’ (Laughs).

“People think you’re gonna be rolling around in depression and not getting out of bed, but I know what it is. This is a sport I’ve been doing and following for my entire adult life. It’s always a possibility. A loss like this, you’re not rolling around in depression, super upset. It’s self-explanatory. It is what it is. I can honestly say I’m not any more upset than when I lost the Poirier fight.”

Hooker (20-10) was coming off a thrilling, and close decision loss to Dustin Poirier in June, 2020. Prior to that, the New Zealand fighter had won three straight.