DAN HOOKER hit out at Islam Makhachev for mimicking Khabib Nurmagomedov as he said: ‘You’re just copying your mate’s homework’.
Lightweight contender Makhachev is on an eight-fight win streak and calling for the biggest names in the division.
2
2
He is a long-time training partner and now protege of Nurmagomedov, who retired in October.
But New Zealander Hooker has accused Makhachev of taking too much from his mentor, making him a carbon copy.
He told Submission Radio: “You see scrolling past and seeing on like build-up videos of him saying everyone’s scared, everyone’s scared to fight him, oh, the whole division’s shook.
“Bro, you’re just copying your mate’s homework. Give your mate’s homework back and come up with something for yourself, son.
“He’s on a good streak at the moment, but I believe he’s been knocked out in the UFC before.
“So then him copying Khabib’s homework and saying all this wild stuff when you’ve been laid flat in the octagon, it doesn’t really have the same ring to it as an undefeated fighter.
“He just beat number 15. And then guys in the top five are supposed to be howling his name and taking the fight?”
Makhachev, 29, extended his record to 20-1 after recently submitting Thiago Moises, 26.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Hooker, 31, meanwhile has lost his last two, but against Dustin Poirier, 32, and Michael Chandler, 35, two of the best lightweights in the world.
Makhachev, currently ranked 9th, is one place below the kickboxer, who is adamant other contenders would be more than willing to face the Dagestani.
Hooker explained: It just doesn’t make sense for those guys to go out there with the notation that everyone’s afraid of them.
“I truly believe like no one in that top 15 is afraid to fight anyone else in the top 15. It just doesn’t make sense. Everyone is afraid of someone?
“You watch them get the belt and then no one turns a fight down. Everyone’s positioning themselves to be champion, and that’s just what it is.
“So, the notion that fighters are afraid of another fighter is just silly. And if you believe that, I think you’re just a little bit gullible.”
