Conor McGregor vs Dan Hooker: The UFC Fight That Was Never Booked
Last updated: 20 October 2026.
Please note: UFC never officially booked Conor McGregor vs Dan Hooker. The fight will not take place, and tickets were never on sale.
No date, venue or tickets were ever announced for this bout, because UFC never officially booked it. Earlier claims on this page that the match was “finalised” for 1 February 2025 were wrong.
Conor McGregor vs Dan Hooker became one of the most talked-about potential matchups in mixed martial arts: a comeback fight for “The Notorious” against one of the lightweight division’s toughest and most resilient fighters. For all the talk, though, UFC never officially booked the bout, so it will never happen.
Riyadh Upcoming Events:
1. Fury vs Usyk Tickets
4. Gilberto Ramirez vs Billam-Smith Tickets
2. Inter Milan vs Atalanta Ticket
3. Juventus vs AC Milan Tickets
The Conor McGregor Comeback Talk
Conor McGregor, the charismatic Irishman, has been absent from the octagon since his last fight in 2021, which ended with a broken leg against Dustin Poirier. Now, after a series of ups and downs, “The Notorious” has talked up a comeback, with a meeting against the dangerous and resilient Dan Hooker among the matchups he discussed.
A comeback bout would have been McGregor’s first fight since overcoming injury, and he talked of being more determined than ever to make a statement. His flashy style, combined with his larger-than-life persona, is a big part of why the matchup drew so much interest.
Dan Hooker: A Worthy Opponent
The other name in the discussion was Dan “The Hangman” Hooker, a fighter known for his resilience and striking prowess. Hooker is confident, having faced some of the division’s toughest opponents, including Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev.
Hooker made clear he was ready to meet McGregor head-on, promising fans an all-action showdown. Often considered one of the most underrated lightweights, he saw the matchup as a chance to make headlines and boost his position in the rankings.
The Rumoured Venue: Kingdom Arena
Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia was the venue named in coverage of the rumoured bout. Known for its modern facilities and electrifying atmosphere, it has hosted major combat-sports events as Saudi Arabia grows into a global sports hub — but UFC never confirmed any venue for McGregor vs Hooker.
How the Matchup Was Seen
Bookmakers and pundits speculated about how the fight might have played out. With Conor McGregor’s history of explosive knockouts and Dan Hooker’s gritty, no-quit attitude, it was seen as a battle of contrasting styles: McGregor’s striking accuracy and knockout power against Hooker’s ability to withstand punishment and take a fight into deep waters. In the end, it remained a hypothetical matchup, because the fight was never officially made.
Historical Context and Rivalry
The pair have never met in the octagon. Despite Hooker not being on McGregor’s level of fame, both men shared a mutual respect, having exchanged words at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event. Hooker called McGregor out, and both fighters quickly agreed to get it on — but talk was as far as it went, because UFC never officially booked the fight. It would have pitted McGregor’s showmanship and knockout power against Hooker’s tenacity and resilience.
For now, McGregor vs Hooker remains one of UFC’s great what-ifs: a talked-about matchup that had the ingredients of a classic, but was never officially made. The fight exists only in the discussion that surrounded it.