Daniel Hooker says Jason Knight can pick just how he wants to lose at UFC Fight Night 101

MELBOURNE, Australia – Daniel Hooker sees some redeeming qualities in Jason Knight’s game, but “The Hangman” said he also sees some glaring holes. And as Hooker considers how their UFC Fight Night 101 matchup should go, he thinks Knight can basically just pick his poison.

“That’s up to Jason,” Hooker told MMAjunkie. “If he comes in like that last fight, it’s going to be a bad night for him.

“If he comes in stepping off all those shots and running into some things, I’m going to set him up for some shots, and if he wants to run into them, then this might be over quick. Or he might be outclassed, wait until he gets tired, start putting some shots on him, touching the right spots and taking him out in two or three rounds. So it’s up to Jason – it’s not up to me.”

Hooker (13-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and Knight (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meet in the UFC Fight Pass-featured bout of UFC Fight Night 101, takes place Saturday (Sunday in Australia) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The event’s main card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Hooker has had some inconsistent results thus far in his UFC career, but he’s coming off a scintillating 84-second submission win over Mark Eddiva at this past March’s UFC Fight Night 85 event.

Meanwhile, Knight dropped his UFC debut but bounced back with a thrilling, trash-talking victory over Jim Alers at July’s UFC on FOX 20 that earned that event’s “Fight of the Night” bonus.

Hooker, who regularly breaks down fights and fighters as on ongoing technique series on YouTube, admits Knight’s last contest was entertaining but saw more flaws than strengths – and said he’d have no problem explaining to “The Kid” exactly where he needs to improve.

“I watch fights; that’s my hobby,” Hooker said. “I train as a profession, and then as a hobby, I watch fights. I break down fights. I enjoy watching the technique, breaking it down, so I see some things he does poor fundamentally, which at a high level, you’re not going to get away with. I see some flaws in his game.

“He has most of his wins by submission, but I don’t think he has the wrestling, so he hasn’t had the full picture. He has the come-forward, aggressive striking, and he has the jiu-jitsu with the attacking submissions, but I don’t think he has the top pressure, the top game or the wrestling capability to take me down. So when I say I see holes in his game, it’s because I see holes. Like, if you want to talk about the technique, I’ll sit here and argue with him about the technique. I’ve got no shame in that.”

As you’d expect, of course, Knight doesn’t necessarily see the things the same way, but that’s what makes the clash exciting. Knight, 24, believes Hooker, 26, hasn’t seen quite the same level of opponents thus far in his career and points to the Kiwi’s losses to Yair Rodriguez and Maximo Blanco as proof of his shortcomings.

Hooker isn’t buying it.

“That was years ago,” Hooker said. “My game since then has evolved. I think you’re going to see than I’m on a different level. You’re going to see that I should be fighting guys further up the ranking.

“I’m going there to outclass the guy. Used to, my tactic was to take shots. I would trade shots, eat shots, but that is obviously not key for longevity in this sport. This is the sport of hitting and not getting hit. That’s what I’m going out there to show, like a flawless performance – completely outclass your opponent and take him out in exciting fashion.”

And if he can accomplish that, Hooker believes it will be the start of something special in the UFC.

“I definitely see a title in my future, the way I’m going,” Hooker said. “I think I’m one of the smartest fighters in the game, and I think the way my game is heading and the focus and drive and the fighter I’ve developed into, what I’ve done in the UFC is nothing compared wot what I’m capable of doing in the UFC.

“I see myself going on a tear, and whether it’s good fortune, not much is going to get in the way of stopping me reaching that level.”

For more from Hooker, check out the video above. Or to hear the entire interview, click on the video below.

For more on UFC Fight Night 101, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.