Dan Hooker’s stock is once again on the rise in the UFC lightweight division.

New Zealand’s “Hangman” won his third consecutive fight (24-12 overall) for the first time since 2019-2020 when he earned a split decision over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 this past Saturday. With the win, Hooker finds himself in the mix atop the division as the fifth-ranked contender in the UFC’s official rankings.

Hooker, 34, can expect a big fight in his next time out and targets the former champion Charles Oliveira as the likeliest matchup. However, another former champion in Ireland’s Conor McGregor is still expected to return around the end of the year. That might be optimistic at this stage, but regardless, Michael Chandler has been the name attached to McGregor’s return. Ultimately, Hooker doesn’t see what Chandler does for McGregor.

“I feel like it’s a smart option,” Hooker told Submission Radio. “You’re going to fight a guy in the top five on a on a three fight win streak or are you going to fight a guy who’s not in the top five and coming off a loss?

“I’ve been staying active and I’ve been fighting the best guys in the world. It just is what it is. He has more to gain from fighting me than he does from Chandler.”

Coincidentally, Chandler made his UFC debut against Hooker at UFC 257 in January 2021. The former three-time Bellator champion knocked out Hooker in round one before McGregor got knocked out in that night’s main event in his Dustin Poirier rematch.

McGregor, 36, notoriously battled Poirier in their trilogy immediately that following July, which was his last octagon appearance, breaking his leg in round one and suffering a TKO defeat. Whether it’s McGregor, Oliveira, or someone else, Hooker knows he’ll be fighting for a title shot next.

Since McGregor is always a fight away from a title, why not him?

“My next fight is going to be a title eliminator,” Hooker said. “That’s what my next fight is going to be. So, if he wants, if he genuinely wants to get back in the mix and genuinely wants to earn his way back to a world title, it makes a lot of sense.”

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TOP STORIES

Counter. Francis Ngannou responds to Dana White: According to UFC, ‘it was Jon Jones that didn’t want to fight me’

Prep. Tom Aspinall claims UFC spoke to him about being backup for Jones vs. Miocic: ‘If somebody pulls out, I’m in’

Injury. Muhammad Mokaev says he’s been released from hospital after scary car accident in Dagestan

Divisions. Sean Strickland doubts Alex Pereira ever fights at 185 pounds again: ‘Luckily for us’

Perspective. Gilbert Burns feels for teammate Michael Chandler but ‘I would never wait that long for any opponent’

Matchup. Renan Ferreira warns Francis Ngannou to focus on PFL fight, not boxing return: ‘He has a big problem ahead of him’

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LET’S WATCH

MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin chats with Gilbert Burns.

Between the Links.

Ngannou vs. Ferreira first staredown.

UFC Vegas 96 Promo.

Best UFC Vegas 96 Fighter Finishes.

UFC 305 Fight Motion.

PFL DC Vlog.

Wonderboy breakdown.

Cooking with Volk.

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MORNING MUSIC

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!

This month’s full playlist:

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SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN

He’s holding one though.

Alright, Stipe.

Clarity.

No distractions.

Facts are facts.

Noise-canceling.

Sometimes you gotta.

Physique.

Oh...

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Žygimantas Ramaška (9-2) vs. Nathan Fletcher (8-1); UFC Vegas 96, Aug. 24

Kaan Ofli (11-2-1) vs. Mairon Santos (13-1); UFC Vegas 96, Aug. 24

Carlos Hernandez (9-4) vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (8-0); UFC Macau, Nov. 23

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FINAL THOUGHTS

There’s probably more “fun” potential for a Hooker-McGregor fight, but I don’t think I can say, “Yeah, let’s do that one for Conor” until Conor actually comes back first. So, whatever. Just don’t wait for him, fighters. Please.

Happy Friday, peeps. Have a great and safe weekend. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you on Monday.

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EXIT POLL

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.