Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker engage in bitter verbal feud

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweights Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker have made it clear that their past friendship is over.During an interview with The MMA Guru On Thursday, Pimblett showed up and took shots at a few other names in his division. Discussing his UFC 324 headliner against Justin Gaethje, Pimblett dismissed the idea that Gaethje, 37, is too old and therefore less dangerous. “The Baddy” invoked Hooker’s name for comparison, stating that the American was only two years older than the Kiwi, and threw a dagger at Hooker for being subdued by Arman Tsarukyan the previous year.

“A lot of people say like Justin Gaethje, he’s old, and that kid is two years older than Dan Hooker,” Pimblett noted, before taking a dark turn. “Dan Hooker is about two years younger than him…Dan Hooker can’t take a damn rapist away from his mother.”’The Hangman’ caught wind of Pimblett’s comment and was furious. Hooker shared a video on social media that showed they were once friendly with each other and threatened the Liverpool player. To further their beef, Hooker invoked the name of Pimblett’s late friend, Ricky took his own life several years ago.

“Nothing was said when we were face to face, b—h,” Hooker written. “I thought we were friends but you’re not a very good friend are you Paddy Pimblett RIP Ricky.”Shortly afterwards, Hooker repostedclaiming that they would fight the next time they met in person.

‘It’s on [sight, you] big b—h,” Hooker wrote.

Lowest of the low

Although he will face Gaethje on January 24 in Las Vegas, Pimblett took more time on Friday to hit back at Hooker.
social media.“I thought we couldn’t be friends because I’m above you,” Pimblett wrote, accompanied by a laughing emoji. “You made a hypothetical joke about how bad your struggle is and responded by talking about my partner committing suicide? That’s the lowest of the low and so on [sight] I’m fine with it, you guys are real dogs, not into fighting.’

The winner atop UFC 324 is expected to face Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight title, while Pimblett and Gaethje will battle for the interim 155-pound title. Hooker, who had won three straight from 2022 to 2024, fell short to Tsarukyan in November to quash his immediate title ambitions. He is matched up against the hyper-aggressive Benoit St. Denis a week after UFC 324 and serves as the co-main attraction for UFC 325’s Sydney, Australia, fight card.