Dan Hooker is now a fight promoter.
This past weekend, Hooker expanded on his combat sports resume by entering the world of fight promotion, hosting a single-elimination super heavyweight tournament in his backyard. The bout consisted of 32 fighters battling it out in 60-second boxing matches with MMA gloves, competing to win the $50,000 grand prize. The event led to some nasty knockouts as well as some controversy, and speaking with The MacLife on Tuesday, Hooker explained how it all came to pass.
“I was just at a Thailand event,” Hooker explained. “I got brought over to just kind of host. I had nothing to do with organizing it, or matching it, or getting the fighters, and I saw the format of 32 fighters and how to win — one-minute fights — and I thought a super heavyweight event in New Zealand would be absolutely incredible. And then three fights into it, I was standing there and I said, ‘I knew this would be a good idea.’”
While Hooker has already released some highlights on social media, he intends to drop the entire event soon for people to watch all the 1 Minute Scraps, and he’s very pleased with how everything worked out.
“It ran smooth. Not a single issue,” Hooker said. “We knocked out 30 fights in an hour. No serious injuries. We had one fighter hurt his arm punching someone else, and that was the most serious injury we had for the day. So everyone got home to their family safe. …
“Of course I had judges, of course I had medics. Of course, I had medics who checked all the boys and had that all cleared, had all the right things in the right places. And everyone did an incredible job. …
“We had the rules checked and cleared, we asked the right people that needed to be asked, and I knew that after the event, I would have to answer to the combat sports community in New Zealand.
“Of course, I had all those things in place. The matchmaking — 32 guys, the range of skills … There were huge discrepancies coming into the tournament. I think the lightest coming into the tournament was 95 kilos, and the heaviest was 205 kilos, so obviously they can’t fight each other. You match them in the first round, similar to weights, so by the time it goes up, you’re getting experienced, skillful fighters, the weights become a lot closer to each other. And going into it, experienced guys fighting experienced guys, less experienced guys, or bigger guys fighting the bigger guys.”
This was Hooker’s first foray into the world of fight promotion, which has become an increasingly popular side gig for prominent MMA fighters. Fighters like Mike Perry, Jorge Masvidal, and Khabib Nurmagomedov have all started their own fight promotions. But though he says he intends to do this again, Hooker also says this isn’t something he’s going to stay focused on long term, but merely a distraction for him as he recovers from a hand injury.
“Yep, we’ll do another one,” Hooker said when asked if there would be a second event. “For that, we’ll consider a North Island event, and then we plan on doing an event in the South Island.
“We’ll see. I’m not a promoter, I’m a fighter. I did it because I’m injured. And it was an incredible idea. Those boys are incredibly skillful. They’re some big units, they’re some very dangerous men out there.”
TOP STORIES
Arrested. B.J. Penn arrested twice on charges of abuse of family or household member; Penn posts disturbing video showing arrest.
Restraining Order. B.J. Penn’s mother files for restraining order against UFC legend, claims ‘extreme psychological abuse.’
Stockton. Nate Diaz slams Bo Nickal, Justin Gaethje, and new generation of fighters talking smack to him: ‘B*tch, f*ck you.’
Hall of Fame. Michael Bisping: Vitor Belfort ‘can stick his Hall of Fame up his ass,’ but acknowledges he deserves the honor.
Reflection. Chuck Liddell reflects on 20-year anniversary of first UFC title win, names ‘real fighter’ from today’s MMA.
Grappling. Henry Cejudo tops ex-ONE champion in grappling match in Kazakhstan.
Results. The Ultimate Fighter 33: Daniel Cormier vs. Chael Sonnen Episode 1 results.
VIDEO STEW
The Ultimate Fighter teaser.
Michael Bisping and Paul Felder talk to Merab Dvalishvili.
DC and Ben Askren talking Jon Jones.
Fights.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Some of the highlights from the Dan Hooker Invitational.
Mike Perry and Sean Strickland sparring.
And Darren Till having a laugh about it.
Also, damn. That feels like way longer than seven years ago.
7 years ago today one of the proudest moments of my life.
Walking out to a sold out Echo Arena Liverpool to fight for the number 1 contender spot in the UFC against one of the best strikers at the time, Stephen (Wonderboy) Thompson.
I’ll never forget this day & I know I’ll have… pic.twitter.com/PnATRJR58V— DT (@darrentill2) May 27, 2025
Think of the children, Kayla!
Glenn by jumping the gilly.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Curtis (31-12, 1 NC) vs. Max Griffin (20-11); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Lauren Murphy (16-6) vs. Eduarda Moura (11-1); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Jake Matthews (21-7) vs. Chidi Njokuani (25-10, 1 NC); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Junior Tafa (6-3) vs. Tuco Tokkos (10-5); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Ateba Gautier (7-1) vs. Robert Valentin (11-5, 1 NC); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Vitor Petrino (11-2) vs. Austen Lane (13-6, 1 NC); UFC Nashville, July 12.
Fatima Kline (7-1) vs. Melissa Martinez (8-1); UFC Nashville, July 12.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Did y’all know that a vast majority of MMA fighter social media is now almost exclusively political retweets or hawking some crypto thing? I’m completely on board with fighters instead hosting semi-legal fight tournaments in their backyard if it means that’s what social media is going to be for instead. That’s way cooler.
EXIT POLL
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