Dan Hooker, who proudly made weight for his most recent fight despite issues with his own government and uncertainty surrounding the bout, has no time for Paulo Costa’s gamesmanship.
Costa’s failure to make the 185 pound middleweight limit for his fight against Marvin Vettori inspired the New Zealander’s ire, with “The Hangman” labeling it “a massive F you” to everybody. Hooker told Submission Radio that such behavior wouldn’t be tolerated in his home country.
Dan Hooker: Costa Weight Controversy “Would Never Happen” in New Zealand or Australia
“That would never happen, something like that in New Zealand or Australia. I feel like if you just showed up to a local kickboxing show with your fighter 10 kilos [around 22 pounds] overweight and you were like, ‘What are you gonna do about it?’ I feel like you’d get beaten up in the car park.
It’s just a sign of respect. That’s all it is. It’s a matter of respect. I show up on weight as a respect for my opponent, as a respect for my gym, as a respect for representing who I represent. It’s a sign of respect to the fans, it’s a sign of respect to the promotion. It’s absolutely everything.
So it absolutely is what it is. Him coming out like that is just a massive ‘F you’ to the fans, ‘F you’ to the UFC, ‘F you’ to his opponent.”
Hooker was particularly irritated with Costa’s attitude because, from his perspective, Paulo Costa has not earned the right to carry himself in such a way.
“What Costa did, he didn’t earn the right to do that. It was a funny situation because it was only what, a couple of weeks ago that we let Nick Diaz roll up and do it.
But Paulo Costa hadn’t done for the sport what Nick Diaz had done, but obviously the same result, he got the weight class changed entirely. So I don’t know, it’s kind of funny, like a bit of a power play. But it’s not for me, it’s not like the ANZAC culture of the sport.”
“ANZAC” refers to the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, the combined forces of both nations who fought in World War One. The notion of ANZAC culture is one of mateship, respect, and facing overwhelming odds.
Dan Hooker will take on Islam Makhachev this weekend at UFC 267. He will be looking to bring Makhachev’s hype train to a shuddering halt, perhaps channelling the spirit of the ANZACs.
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