Daniel Hooker's quest for UFC success led him to Neil Magny's couch

Daniel Hooker

Four fights into his UFC career, Daniel Hooker has banked two victories and a “Performance of the Night” bonus. Imagine what he could accomplish if he wasn’t performing at “30 percent” his abilities.

“I was in this position at the start of my career,” Hooker told MMAjunkie. “Like, I kind of jumped straight into pro, and I was fighting away, and next thing, I’m 3-3, and the guys I’m losing to, I’m just thinking, ‘I have no idea what’s going on. I know 100 percent that I’m so much better than these guys, but they’re kind of getting the best of me.’

“And I’m in the same position now. I’m 2-2 in the UFC, and it’s just not – it doesn’t reflect the quality of fighter that I know I can be and that I know I am.”

Hooker made his UFC debut in June 2014, when the octagon visited his native New Zealand. Hooker responded in fine fashion, scoring a first-round TKO over Ian Entwistle.

Three months later, “The Hangman” traveled to Japan, where he came up short in a rousing three-round scrap with Maximo Blanco.

In May 2015, Hooker again impressed, showing improved striking in a second-round knockout of Japanese veteran Hatsu Hioki and netting that “Fight Night” bonus in the process.

That performance earned Hooker an October 2015 bout with top featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez at UFC 192, but he came up short, with “Pantera” cruising to a decision win.

“My performance really let me down,” Hooker said. “I was really disappointed in that fight because I know I can do so much better.”

The mixed results forced Hooker, 26, to take a look at what it would take for him to progress to the next level in his professional career. As he pondered the potential, Hooker thought back to his first UFC fight and a friendship he had formed with UFC welterweight contender Neil Magny.

Hooker was impressed by Magny’s recent 9-1 stretch in the UFC but also his incredible durability and willingness to fight as often as possible, netting five fights in each of the past two calendar years – far more than the average UFC athlete.

So Hooker reached out to Magny for advice and was welcomed with open arms. Hooker jumped on the next plane to Denver and began to train alongside Magny at Elevation Fight Team.

“He was always in great condition, fighting very active and always healthy and injury-free,” Hooker said. “Those are things that I really thought would benefit me, so I messaged Neil, and he was more than welcoming. I live with Neil now.

“Neil has been the No. 1 kind of biggest thing for me. He has really guided me and helped me out a ton. I owe him big-time.”

Hooker (12-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) gets to put his progress to the test against Mark Eddiva (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 85, which takes place Sunday at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Due to the time difference, the card airs on Saturday on FOX Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Hooker said his time in Colorado has proved extremely valuable, not only for the coaching he received at the world-class facility but also the affirmation he felt working alongside some of the best fighters in the game.

“I’m a very practical-minded thinker, so it’s hard to just grab this full belief out of nowhere,” Hooker said. “Some guys can do it. They can just believe that they are, but I’m more of a practically minded person. I think very practically when it comes to fighting. So unless I have some hard evidence of my level, then it’s hard for me to kind of have full faith in that. But being (in Colorado) and realizing that I have been on the right track this whole time and the techniques that I have and my skillset is there – I have a world-class skillset.

“The coaches have really built me up and added to that skillset and put everything together, and my mind is really right for this fight, as well. So all the puzzle pieces have kind of clicked into place at the right time.”

Hooker said he’s familiar with the Philippines-based Eddiva, as well as his home gym of Lakay MMA, but that he believes UFC Fight Night 85 provides him a chance to showcase his improvement and that his “skillset is on a different level.”

“You’re going to see my going in there and having the complete picture and having put everything together and really showcasing my skills and doing my skills justice,” Hooker said. “Those previous fights, I really have not performed to my ability. I feel it’s 30 percent of my ability, at best.

“I’m going to go in there, I’m very confident in this fight in my own abilities, and I’m ready to perform at 100 percent.”

Afterward, Hooker hopes to launch himself into a Magny-like run of frequent fights in 2016 – though June 24 is out, as he’s set to be married on the beaches of Thailand. But any other date?

“As long as it’s not that day, I’m pretty fine with it,” Hooker said. If they want me to fight the weekend before, then I’ll do the ceremony with a couple of black eyes. If they want me to do it the weekend after, then I’ll go skinny and hungry. I really don’t mind.”

To hear more from Hooker, check out Episode No. 50 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan.”

And for more on UFC Fight Night 85, check out the UFC Events section of the site.