UFC fighter Dan Hooker has sparked controversy by venturing into event promotion.
Hooker joins a list of other UFC stars who have tried promoting events, including Jorge Masvidal, Anthony Pettis, Chael Sonnen, Urijah Faber, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Hooker recently announced his own event, “King of the Streets,” set to take place in his home country, New Zealand.
However, the format of this striking event has drawn strong criticism from New Zealand`s boxing authorities.
New Zealand Boxing Association President Criticizes Dan Hooker`s `King of the Streets` Event
The “King of the Streets” event, planned for Saturday in Auckland, is promoted as a boxing tournament using MMA gloves and offering a $50,000 prize to the winner.
Via social media, Hooker, known as `The Hangman`, described the format: one-minute rounds with no weight class restrictions.
Promotional content for the event includes an endorsement from fellow UFC star and teammate Israel Adesanya, who said, “Bring the family… come watch, you`ll get knocked out or knock someone the f*** out.”
Hooker claims to have numerous competitors lined up, indicating no trouble finding participants. However, not everyone shares this positive view.
Billy Meehan, president of the New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association, sharply criticized the event during an interview with Checkpoint, suggesting the format could potentially result in a fatality.
Meehan stated: “The rules [of boxing] are significantly different. We don`t have one-minute rounds. This format encourages fighters to just go out and smash each other as hard as possible. Boxing is a sport and an art form; this is pure thuggery.”
He continued, “What you have here are just thugs getting in there and brutally smashing each other. We are going to see someone get seriously injured, perhaps even killed.”
Meehan also highlighted regulatory concerns: “This requires sanctioning by a proper body. They aren`t even disclosing the location, so police likely don`t know either. Individuals authorized to host boxing tournaments are listed under the Wrestling and Boxing Act, and Dan Hooker is not among them.”
Dan Hooker`s History of Octagon Violence Has Made Him a Fan Favorite
Given Hooker`s reputation for engaging in violent bouts, persuading him to alter this event`s format might prove challenging for boxing officials.
Known as `The Hangman`, he is widely recognized for his willingness to engage in brawls and risk his own well-being during his UFC fights.
This was clearly demonstrated at International Fight Week in 2023, where Hooker overcame significant challenges to win a thrilling fight against Jalin Turner.
Despite suffering a badly broken arm in the first round at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, the resilient New Zealander fought through the injury and secured the victory by winning two of the three judges` scorecards.
A similarly intense fight was anticipated when Hooker was scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in March 2025.
However, a broken hand forced `The Hangman` to withdraw from UFC 313 on short notice. The popular fighter is currently recovering and has no scheduled return date yet.
