If you are searching for Dan Hooker’s record, wife, height, and overall UFC career, the numbers tell only part of the story. Hooker has built his reputation as one of the most durable and entertaining lightweight fighters of his generation, but his career has also included major changes in weight class, long wars, difficult losses, and some remarkable comebacks.
Dan Hooker, known as “The Hangman,” is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist who has competed at the highest level of the UFC since 2014. As of September 2026, his professional MMA record stands at 24 wins and 15 losses, following his first-round TKO defeat to Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris on September 5, 2026. His official UFC profile still showed the older 24–14 record when last updated, so the post-fight result is important when checking his current career numbers.
This guide breaks down his record, physical measurements, fighting style, family life, biggest fights, and the less obvious details that help explain why Hooker has remained relevant in the UFC for so long.
Who Is Dan Hooker?
Dan Hooker is a New Zealand MMA fighter from Auckland who has competed professionally since 2009. He eventually became a UFC veteran after making his Octagon debut in June 2014.
He is best known for his career in the UFC lightweight division, although he did not begin his UFC career exclusively at 155 pounds. He initially competed at featherweight before establishing himself as a lightweight contender.
Hooker’s nickname, “The Hangman,” reflects his affinity for submissions, particularly chokes. His UFC profile credits him with multiple submission victories, including rear-naked chokes, guillotines, an armbar and a triangle.
However, describing Hooker simply as a submission specialist would be misleading.
In practice, his greatest weapon has often been his ability to fight effectively at long range while using his height and reach to create difficult striking exchanges.
Dan Hooker Record
As of September 6, 2026, Dan Hooker’s professional MMA record is:
24 wins – 15 losses – 0 draws
His 24 victories include:
- 11 wins by KO/TKO
- 7 wins by submission
- 6 wins by decision
The UFC’s published statistics previously listed him at 24–14, with 11 knockout victories, seven submissions and six decision wins. His subsequent September 2026 loss to Salahdine Parnasse moved his overall record to 24–15.
Dan Hooker’s UFC Record
Hooker’s UFC career has been particularly long and demanding.
He has fought elite names across several generations of the lightweight division, including:
- Dustin Poirier
- Michael Chandler
- Islam Makhachev
- Justin Gaethje
- Edson Barboza
- Paul Felder
- Mateusz Gamrot
- Jalin Turner
- Arman Tsarukyan
- Benoît Saint Denis
- Salahdine Parnasse
That list helps put his record into perspective.
A fighter can have a mixed win-loss record while still being consistently tested against world-class opposition. Hooker’s career is a good example of that distinction.
What Happened in Dan Hooker’s Most Recent Fight?
Dan Hooker’s most recent fight was against Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris on September 5, 2026.
Parnasse stopped Hooker by first-round TKO via a liver kick at 2:35 of the opening round. The defeat gave Hooker three consecutive losses after his January 2026 victory over Benoît Saint Denis.
This result matters because it changes the way his current record should be interpreted.
Before the Parnasse fight, Hooker had produced an important rebound against Saint Denis in January 2026. He stopped Saint Denis with strikes at 4:45 of the second round.
That victory followed a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan in November 2025.
So the recent sequence has been:
- Arman Tsarukyan def. Dan Hooker — submission
- Dan Hooker def. Benoît Saint Denis — TKO
- Salahdine Parnasse def. Dan Hooker — TKO
It illustrates the unpredictable nature of Hooker’s late-career run.
Dan Hooker Height
One of the most common searches about the fighter is “Dan Hooker height.”
Dan Hooker is officially listed by the UFC at:
Height: 6 feet (183 cm)
He is also listed with a 75-inch reach and a 42.5-inch leg reach.
That physical profile is especially useful in the lightweight division.
At 155 pounds, a six-foot fighter with a 75-inch reach can create a significant distance problem for shorter opponents. Hooker has historically used his long frame to:
- Keep opponents at kicking range
- Attack with knees and front kicks
- Land straight punches from distance
- Force opponents to cover ground
- Create opportunities for elbows and clinch attacks
His height isn’t just an interesting statistic. It has directly influenced how he fights.
Why Hooker’s Reach Matters More Than His Height
A common mistake is to look only at height when evaluating an MMA fighter.
Reach can be more relevant because MMA takes place at multiple distances.
Hooker’s 75-inch reach allows him to touch opponents before they can comfortably enter punching range. That becomes particularly valuable when combined with his kicking game.
His official UFC statistics show that the overwhelming majority of his significant strikes have been landed while standing: 988 of his 1,171 recorded significant strikes, or about 84 percent.
That statistic tells you something important about his identity as a fighter: Hooker has historically done much of his offensive work from distance rather than relying primarily on prolonged ground exchanges.
Dan Hooker Fighting Style
Hooker’s style is built around range, timing, toughness and variety.
He is an orthodox fighter who can attack with punches, kicks, knees and elbows. His height allows him to operate comfortably from the outside, but he is also dangerous when opponents force him into close quarters.
His striking game can include:
- Teep-style front kicks
- Leg kicks
- Body kicks
- Knees
- Straight punches
- Elbows
- Clinch attacks
One particularly interesting aspect of Hooker’s style is that his long limbs can make his attacks appear slower than they actually are.
An opponent may think they are outside punching range, only to discover that Hooker’s jab, kick or knee can still reach them.
His Toughness Is Part of the Equation
Hooker’s career has also been defined by his willingness to fight through adversity.
His five-round battle with Dustin Poirier in 2020 became one of the most memorable lightweight contests of that period. Poirier won by unanimous decision, but the fight demonstrated Hooker’s ability to absorb punishment and continue competing at a high level.
The problem with that toughness is obvious: durability is an advantage until it becomes a liability.
For an aging fighter with an extremely long professional career, damage accumulation becomes an increasingly important factor.
That is one reason Hooker’s later career should not be judged solely by whether he can still produce spectacular performances.
Dan Hooker and His Wife
Dan Hooker’s wife is Isabella Hooker.
The couple has largely kept their private life away from the center of Hooker’s professional career, although Isabella has appeared with him publicly and has been mentioned in interviews and sports coverage.
A 2019 interview with New Zealand’s 1News identified Isabella as Hooker’s wife and reported that she found it difficult to watch him compete after a particularly damaging fight.
That detail gives useful context to the question of who Dan Hooker’s wife is.
Being married to a professional MMA fighter is not simply a matter of attending events. The profession involves training camps, travel, injuries, weight cuts, recovery periods and the possibility of serious physical harm.
Hooker has openly spoken about the importance of his family.
The UFC previously quoted him explaining that his motivation included taking care of his wife and daughter after his fighting career eventually ended.
Does Dan Hooker Have Children?
Yes.
Dan Hooker and Isabella have a daughter named Zoe.
Zoe has occasionally appeared in Hooker’s public family content and UFC-related material. Hooker has spoken about how becoming a father changed his perspective on fighting.
One particularly revealing example came during the COVID-19 period, when New Zealand’s strict quarantine arrangements created significant separation between Hooker and his family. Reports at the time described his wife and daughter visiting him while maintaining required distancing.
For Hooker, fighting stopped being only about personal ambition.
Family became part of the calculation.
That is an important distinction when trying to understand his career decisions.
A Less Obvious Insight: Fatherhood Changed His Preparation
One of the more interesting details from Hooker’s career is that becoming a father did not simply give him extra motivation.
It changed how he thought about preparation.
Ahead of a later major fight, Hooker explained that the birth of his daughter had previously distracted him mentally even though he continued completing the physical aspects of training.
He specifically recognized that studying an opponent and absorbing technical details required the same mental commitment as physical preparation.
That is an unusually practical insight into professional MMA.
A fighter can be physically fit and still be poorly prepared if their attention is divided.
Hooker’s experience demonstrates why elite fight preparation is not simply about running, sparring and lifting weights.
Dan Hooker’s Biggest UFC Fights
Dan Hooker vs Dustin Poirier
The 2020 fight with Dustin Poirier remains one of the defining performances of Hooker’s career.
Poirier won by unanimous decision after five rounds, but the contest became famous for its sustained violence and high-level exchanges.
Both fighters absorbed enormous punishment, and the fight remains a useful example of Hooker’s ability to compete with elite lightweight opposition.
Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler
Hooker faced Michael Chandler at UFC 257 in January 2021.
Chandler stopped him by strikes in the first round.
The fight demonstrated how dangerous elite pressure can be against a long-range fighter. Hooker could not establish the distance he preferred before Chandler imposed his own pace.
Dan Hooker vs Islam Makhachev
Hooker accepted a short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 in 2021.
Makhachev submitted him via kimura in the first round.
This matchup is particularly significant because it illustrates the risk of accepting a world-class grappler without the preparation normally required for such a stylistic challenge.
Dan Hooker vs Mateusz Gamrot
In 2024, Hooker defeated Mateusz Gamrot by split decision.
The victory was important because Gamrot was known for his wrestling and relentless movement.
Hooker managed to make the fight competitive enough to secure the judges’ decision, demonstrating that his game was not limited to fighting opponents who simply stood in front of him.
Three Things Casual Fans Often Miss About Dan Hooker
1. His career has involved multiple weight classes
Hooker is strongly associated with lightweight today, but his UFC journey began at featherweight.
The UFC notes that he has competed from featherweight all the way to heavyweight during his professional career.
That makes his physical development and career longevity more unusual than his lightweight record alone suggests.
2. His striking statistics explain his reputation
The UFC records 1,171 significant strikes landed for Hooker, with 988 coming from the standing position.
That helps explain why fans often remember him for violent striking battles rather than prolonged grappling performances.
3. His defensive numbers tell another story
Hooker’s UFC profile lists 49% significant-strike defense and 77% takedown defense.
The combination is revealing.
He has generally been much more successful at preventing opponents from completing takedowns than at avoiding every significant strike thrown at him.
That fits the eye test: Hooker is often willing to stay in dangerous striking exchanges rather than simply minimizing damage.
Is Dan Hooker Still a Top UFC Fighter?
That depends on what “top” means.
He remains an experienced UFC-level lightweight with a résumé that includes elite competition. But after his September 2026 loss to Parnasse, he has lost three of his last four fights, and his current trajectory is considerably less certain than it was during his 2023–2024 resurgence.
The important point is that rankings and reputation are temporary.
A veteran can remain technically dangerous while simultaneously becoming more vulnerable to younger, faster opponents.
Hooker’s recent results make that distinction especially relevant.
What Makes Dan Hooker’s Career Interesting?
The easiest way to understand Hooker’s career is to look beyond his win-loss record.
He has repeatedly accepted difficult fights.
He has competed against elite strikers, elite wrestlers and future champions. He has fought at different weights, competed in five-round battles and returned after difficult defeats.
His career also provides a useful lesson about MMA longevity.
Being durable does not mean being invincible.
The same willingness to stand in the pocket that helped create memorable victories can also lead to significant accumulated damage.
For Hooker, that balance has become increasingly important as his career moves deeper into its later stages.
FAQ
What is Dan Hooker’s current MMA record?
As of September 6, 2026, Dan Hooker’s professional MMA record is 24 wins and 15 losses. His latest defeat came against Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris on September 5, 2026. The UFC profile had not yet reflected that latest result and still displayed 24–14.
How tall is Dan Hooker?
Dan Hooker is officially listed by the UFC at 6 feet tall, or 183 cm. His listed reach is 75 inches. His long frame has been an important part of his striking style throughout his UFC career.
Who is Dan Hooker’s wife?
Dan Hooker’s wife is Isabella Hooker. She has generally maintained a relatively private public profile, although she has appeared with Hooker and has spoken publicly about the challenges of watching him compete.
Does Dan Hooker have children?
Yes. Dan Hooker and Isabella have a daughter named Zoe. Hooker has repeatedly discussed how his family has influenced his motivation and his approach to professional fighting.
What is Dan Hooker known for?
Dan Hooker is best known for his long-range striking, toughness, submission ability and willingness to participate in high-level, high-pressure fights. His UFC career includes major bouts against Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje and other leading lightweights.
Is Dan Hooker still fighting in the UFC?
Yes. Hooker remained an active UFC fighter in September 2026. His latest fight was against Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris, where Parnasse stopped him by first-round TKO.
Conclusion
Dan Hooker’s career cannot be fairly summarized by a single statistic.
His 24–15 professional record, six-foot height and 75-inch reach provide the basic facts, but his real significance comes from the quality of opposition he has faced and the way he has repeatedly placed himself in difficult fights.
He has been a dangerous striker, a capable submission artist, a resilient veteran and, perhaps most importantly, a fighter willing to test himself against elite competition.
His family has also played a meaningful role in his career. His wife Isabella and daughter Zoe have been part of the personal motivation behind a profession that demands enormous physical and emotional sacrifices.
After the September 2026 loss to Salahdine Parnasse, questions naturally remain about what comes next. But regardless of how the final chapter develops, Hooker’s place in modern UFC lightweight history is already defined by longevity, toughness and a willingness to fight almost anyone.
