Conor McGregor says Dan Hooker will fight UFC next, Hooker confirms plan

Conor McGregor last fought in July 2021. Since then, he has been on the comeback trail.

And in that time, after supposedly healing a broken leg he suffered in a second straight TKO loss to Dustin Poirier, McGregor has seemingly promised his return countless times. A fight against Michael Chandler was anticipated for the better part of two years – including a booked headliner that led to the UFC’s new all-time gate record, after which McGregor withdrew.

Now they both appear to have moved on, but McGregor is still teasing a return. On Saturday after a BKFC event in Spain, the promotion’s new co-owner, as he hurriedly walked into an alley, told Bloody Elbow that he is fighting Dan Hooker on February 1 in Saudi Arabia.

And Hooker told Submission Radio that he and McGregor spoke in person at Saturday’s BKFC event in Spain, and they just need the UFC to sort it out.

‘I’m on board. He’s on board. We just need to get the UFC on board and we’ll get this thing over the line,” Hooker told the show.

Hooker has said in the recent past that he wanted a McGregor fight. McGregor has said he still wants to fight Chandler, but will fight someone else in the meantime. UFC CEO Dana White has said he expects McGregor to fight in 2025.

McGregor has said in recent weeks that he is “not aware” of the UFC when it comes to booking a fight. Chandler continued with a bout with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 next month.