Dan Hooker Expects Teammates Volkanovski, Kara-France to Return at UFC 314

While Dan Hooker would have liked to fight on the same card as his City Kickboxing teammates, he won’t mind sitting cageside for their return.

Alexander Volkanovski is expected to challenge Ilia Topuria in a featherweight title rematch at UFC 314 on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Hooker believes their teammate, Kai Kara-France, is also likely to be on the same card. The Topuria-Volkanovski rematch has not been confirmed by the promotion.

Meanwhile, “The Hangman” will take on Justin Gaethje in fan favorite matchup at UFC 313 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the Kiwi would have liked to fight on the same card as his teammates, he doesn’t mind getting done with his assignment earlier.

“I'm pretty sure Alex and Kai will be on the same card,” Hooker told ESPN Australia. “I would've liked for all the three of us to be fighting in April together, but I got chucked on a little earlier. But hey, it’s not the end of the world. I'll get to enjoy my fight in March, then hopefully be sitting cageside with a bit of mojito and enjoy the fights there with the boys.”

Volkanovski has dropped three of his last four, including two failed lightweight title bids against Islam Makhachev. “The Great” hasn’t fought since losing his strap to Topuria via knockout at UFC 298 last year. Meanwhile, Kara-France ended a two-fight skid with an stoppage win over Steve Erceg at UFC 305 last year.

Meanwhile, Hooker has seemingly found the proverbial second wind in his career with a three-fight winning streak. Known for engaging in brutal slugfests, Hooker has found his match in Gaethje, who looks to rebound from a BMF title loss against Max Holloway. As for how Hooker expects the fight to play out, the 35-year-old is already prepared to leave on a stretcher.

”No matter [if] his arm gets raised, [or] my arm gets raised and then I’m going straight on the stretcher, straight on to the back of an ambulance and I’m going to the hospital,” Hooker said. “So I’ve come to terms that that’s how this night’s gonna end… I’ve embraced it. So if someone’s not ready to go to the length that I’m willing to go to, then they’re gonna have a hard night.”