Apparently beating a top five contender doesn't warrant a place inside the top five...
That's according to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, who has been reflecting on the events that unfolded at this past weekend's pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, a lightweight fan favorite who enjoyed a difficult fall from grace during the pandemic. In more recent years, however, "The Hangman" has returned to winning ways in style.
And after defending his place in the rankings opposite Claudio Puelles in late 2022 before making a statement in victory over the highly regarded Jalin Turner in 2023, Hooker's first outing of this year saw him leap back into the title conversation.
The New Zealander came out on the right side of a split decision verdict opposite the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot. And this week he was rewarded with a rise into the top five, where his defeated opponent previously sat.
While that didn't come as a surprise to many, Sonnen was shocked. And he sees it as a mistake on the part of the rankings panel...
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on Hooker's triumph Down Under this past weekend and commented on talk of him sharing the cage with Charles Oliveira next.
At one point, "The American Gangster" noted "The Hangman's" recent surge up the pecking order at 155 pounds, expressing surprise and disagreement with Hooker being granted a place inside the top five.
I owe an apology. ... It was stated from Conner Burks, 'Tatted Dan Hooker is undefeated and about to be ranked in the top five.' I wrote back and said, 'Well, you're half right.' ... I have to apologize to Conner," Sonnen said. "Hooker got ranked in the top five. That should not have happened.
I'm surprised that that happened. We don't know who that rankings committee is, but I think we can comfortably understand that Conner is one of them, they spoke, and that's how they did it," Sonnen jokingly added.
Regardless, Hooker is indeed now a top five contender on MMA's biggest stage, and he'll look to ride that momentum all the way into a first title shot down the line.
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