Daniel Cormier TV - Daniel Cormier REACTS to Dan Hooker WITHDRAWAL of Justin Gaethje UFC 313 fight: "I CALLED Gaethje!"

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode Title: Daniel Cormier REACTS to Dan Hooker WITHDRAWAL of Justin Gaethje UFC 313 fight: "I CALLED Gaethje!" Release Date: February 26, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Nathan King delves into the latest upheavals surrounding UFC 313, focusing on the unexpected withdrawal of Dan Hooker from his scheduled fight against Justin Gaethje. Nathan offers an in-depth analysis of the implications of this change, explores potential replacement fighters, and discusses the broader impact on the UFC landscape.

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Dan Hooker's Withdrawal and Its Significance

Timestamp [05:00]

Nathan King begins by addressing the sudden withdrawal of Dan Hooker from the upcoming UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje. He emphasizes the gravity of Hooker's decision, considering Hooker's recent momentum and impressive performances, particularly his victory over Matias Gamburyan last year.

"For Dan Hooker to pull out of this fight, the injury or whatever happened to him must be so significant..."
— Nathan King [05:45]

King reflects on Hooker's transformation and resurgence in the UFC, noting that there were even speculations about Hooker possibly retiring due to a series of losses. Hooker's recent changes, including a new hairstyle and tattoos, signaled a revamped approach to his fighting career, making his withdrawal even more impactful.

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Nathan King's Conversation with Justin Gaethje

Timestamp [06:15]

Seeking clarity on the situation, Nathan recounts his early morning call to Justin Gaethje at 6:00 AM to understand Gaethje's intentions following Hooker's withdrawal.

"I called him this morning and my immediate question was, do you have any plans to not fight this week?"
— Nathan King [06:30]

Gaethje responded emphatically, dismissing any doubts about his commitment to the fight.

"Are you crazy? Of course I'm fighting."
— Justin Gaethje [06:45]

This determination underscores Gaethje's eagerness to remain active and capitalize on the opportunity presented by Hooker's absence.

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Potential Replacement Fighters and Their Implications

Timestamp [07:10]

With Hooker out, Nathan explores the pool of fighters eager to step into the vacant slot. Notable mentions include Rafael Fiziev and Hanochi Moicano.

"Rafael Fazeev immediately said, let's run it back. JG Hanato Moicano said, I want in. Two weeks is plenty of time for me to get ready."
— Nathan King [07:25]

King expresses a preference for a bout between Gaethje and Moicano, citing the latter's recent fight against Islam Makhachev and his resilient fighting style.

"But JG's coming off of a loss too. He got beat by Max Holloway in brutal fashion... Why not match these two up?"
— Nathan King [08:00]

He argues that a fight against Moicano would not only be entertaining but also beneficial for both fighters to regain their momentum and status within the division.

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Analysis of Moicano and Gaethje Dynamics

Timestamp [08:50]

Delving deeper into the potential Gaethje vs. Moicano matchup, Nathan highlights Moicano's versatility and willingness to engage in exciting fights.

"Moicano is always there to fight. He knows how to stand and trade with the best of him. He possesses submission ability... it'll be fun."
— Nathan King [09:10]

He contrasts this with the recent losses both Gaethje and Moicano have faced, suggesting that a clash between them could invigorate their careers and provide fans with the high-octane action they crave.

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Broader UFC Landscape and Upcoming Fights

Timestamp [09:50]

Nathan broadens the discussion to upcoming UFC events, particularly focusing on Alex Pereira's preparation for his next title defense against Makhachev.

"This is the hardest fight he's ever had... so I'm glad to see that he is doing all the things that will be necessary for him to have a chance to retain his championship."
— Nathan King [10:00]

He commends Pereira's dedication to training and adaptability, crucial factors that could determine the outcome of this high-stakes matchup.

Additionally, Nathan touches upon the potential excitement UFC 313 will generate by featuring Gaethje in the co-main event, especially if paired with a fighter like Moicano.

"UFC 313 is going to be an absolute banger."
— Nathan King [10:10]

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Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, Nathan King reiterates his optimism about the evolving dynamics within the UFC, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and readiness among fighters. He encourages listeners to stay engaged and anticipate thrilling bouts as the UFC navigates through unforeseen changes and continues to deliver compelling matchups.

"Justin Gaethje can start to build momentum back in the direction that he wants or back in the direction that he wants to go."
— Nathan King [10:12]

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Key Takeaways

• Dan Hooker's Withdrawal: A significant shift in UFC 313's fight card, raising questions about the next contender for Gaethje.

• Gaethje's Determination: Justin Gaethje remains committed to fighting, dismissing any notions of backing out despite Hooker's withdrawal.

• Potential Matchup with Moicano: A fight between Gaethje and Hanochi Moicano is highly anticipated, promising an explosive and entertaining bout.

• Impact on UFC Rankings: These changes could influence fighter standings and momentum, shaping the upcoming UFC landscape.

• Upcoming Fights: Attention also turns to Alex Pereira's preparation for his title defense, highlighting the ongoing evolution within the UFC.

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This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the latest UFC developments, providing listeners with valuable insights into fighter dynamics, potential matchups, and the ever-changing landscape of mixed martial arts. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the sport, Nathan King's expertise sheds light on the intricacies that make the UFC a captivating spectacle.

Transcript

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[Mark Seal]

I'm Mark Seal and I'm Nathan King.

[Nathan King]

This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

[Bobby Bones]

The five families did not want us.

[Nathan King]

To shoot that picture.

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This podcast is based on my co host Mark Seals best selling book of the same title. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire and many others.

[Nathan King]

Yes, that was a real horse's head.

[Mark Seal]

Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Calling all Yellowstone fans, let's go to work. Join Bobby Bones on the Official Yellowstone Podcast for exclusive cast interviews, behind the scenes insights and a deep dive into the themes that have made Yellowstone a cultural phenomenon.

[Nathan King]

Our family legacy is this ranch, my.

[Bobby Bones]

Protector of my life. Listen to the Official Yellowstone Podcast now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Nathan King]

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Let's go. All right, guys. So I'm at the ufc. We're filming tough. We're cutting weight for weigh ins, and I saw big news this morning that Justin Gaethje is now fighting someone different, not Dan Hooker. So what do I do? Right? Gaethje is my boy. My first call in the morning, at 6:00 in the morning, I call JG because I want to know what's happening. Is there a preference? There are people that are already stepping up saying, I want the fight. They recognize how big the event is, the significance of being in there against Justin Gaethje, the disappointment that Gaethje must feel not being able to fight Dan Hooker. First off, let's talk about Dan Hooker. For Dan Hooker to pull out of this fight, the injury or whatever happened to him must be so significant because he has to understand and recognize that with the wave that he's riding, with the momentum that he's gained, with the victories that he's had back to back, none being more impressive than his fight with Matias Gamrot last last year where he got that decision and looked like an absolute Terminator to get the Justin Gaethje booking for a guy like that, who very shortly ago, honestly, we were calling for his retirement. I thought that Dan Hooker was done, he was losing. He seemed to be not improving anymore. Dude changed his hair, got some brand new tattoos and turned into a whole new fighter. For him not to be taking this fight right now tells me that it's very significant. How significant, I don't know. I'm at the ufc, so I'm going to start asking questions and every update I'll throw in some YouTube shorts or something. But I will keep you guys in the loop as long as I can try to figure out what's going on with Dan Hooker, because again, I know how important this fight was to him. But moving forward, Justin Gaethje is still fighting. I called him this morning and my immediate question was, do you have Any plans to not fight this week? And he goes, are you fucking crazy? That's Justin Gaethje. He goes, are you crazy? Of course I'm fighting. I said, I he, I said, what's up, JG? What are you doing? He goes, I'm sleeping. It's 7:30 in the morning here. I thought it was 8:30. I thought he was in Central time. I'm on the west coast. I thought it was 8:30, but it was 7:30. He goes, of course I'm fighting. I said, well, there are guys that are picking their hand up going, I want in, right? Rafael Fazeev immediately said, let's run it back. JG Hanato Moicano said, I want in. Two weeks is plenty of time for me to get ready. I want in. So I asked jg, who do you want? He goes, I don't care. He goes, I don't care who I have to fight. I'll fight any of those guys. I said, but for me, I want you versus Hanato Moicano. That's what I would like. I think that's a fun fight. And I think that that fight looks more to people like the fight against Dan Hooker. What we were all expecting. I get it. Moicano just lost to Islam Makachev in the way that he did. But JG's coming off of a loss too. He got beat by Max Holloway in brutal fashion. We learned that Moicano couldn't compete with Makhachev. There's no dishonor in that. There's no knocking him for that. Why not match these two up? We know that money Moicano is always there to fight. We know that he's willing to stand and trade with the best of him. We know that he possesses submission ability. We know that Moicano can do anything in the octagon and we know that it'll be fun. We know that he's going to bring the show and we know that Moicano is willing. Hell, we saw this man step on 24 hours notice to fight the number one pound fighter in the world. So why in the world would he not fight a guy coming off of a loss in the way that Justin Gaethje got beat by Max Holloway. But I think what people need to realize though, it's not in just the finish in the Max Holloway fight. If you're an oto, Moicano, you're licking your chops because of what you saw in the lead up to the fight. JG said it himself, he did not fight well against Max Holloway. He said he didn't feel like himself. But if you're an opponent and you're looking at this, you start to think to yourself, what if this is just him now and the whole world doesn't know it? I'm not saying that. I'm not saying Justin's not that same guy he was a little bit ago. But what if as an opponent, you look at Gaethje and go, maybe this is just Justin Gaethje today. He's not the same guy that he was before. If you're Marconnell, you're licking your chops. You're looking for a way to get back to where you were after losing that championship opportunity. Wow, you made more money than you ever made in your life against Makachev. It didn't go the way that you planned. And for Gaethje, this is a massive opportunity to fight a guy that just fought for the UFC world title. This kid just fought for a world championship. If Justin could get his hands on him, if Justin can beat him, Justin Gaethje can start to build momentum back in the direction that he wants or back in the direction that he wants to go. But he said right away to me, of course I want to fight. I'm not backing off the fight. Do you have a preference? No. Whoever shows up, I'm fighting. Me as a person that watches Justin Gaethje, supports Justin Gaethje watches the fight game as close as anyone in the world. I know that that fight makes sense. You know, D.C. loves basketball, so you know, I love the NBA. And right now, I'm in on the action. 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[Nathan King]

Moicano and Gaethje makes sense right now, not only for the division, but in terms of what type of fight we want to put on before Alex Pereira hits the mat against Mago. Mad on Goliath. You want an explosive fight. You want something that's fun, you want something that gets the people out of their seats. Because in the main event you have a fight that can be crazy explosive like Pereira's fights normally are. Or you could have Uncle IV just trying to wrestle him the whole time and maybe it doesn't turn out to be the best fight. I would actually favor the fight being fun because Uncle I have said he wants to stand and fight with him, but you never know. But by putting Gaethje in the co main event, especially in someone like Moicano, that is almost guaranteed to make sure that you have a banger. So I'm hoping that they put together Gaethje, Moicano and. And Justin and Fiziev fought already. While that was a good fight, they fought already. We've seen that story. We don't need this rematch just yet and we don't need this rematch when Fiziev is coming off of an injury, right? He's coming off of an injury. He hasn't been active, he hasn't been fighting. So I don't really want to see him back in there with Gaethje right away. He could fight someone else as he works his way back into that type of high level competition. Before I go, I want to touch on this. So a couple weeks ago, Alex Pereira was still in Australia and I said on Good Guy Bad Guy. I was very concerned that he was still there, that he wasn't at home just working, working the wrestling, preparing himself to make sure that he doesn't get taken down to the ground and rolled the entire time by Mago. Man on Goliath. I like Alex Pereira. Alex Per and I have built a relationship. I have a relationship with Glover and Twinio. I like those guys as I do Magal man and Goliath. But. But I was very concerned and that concern has not changed. I still feel the same way in regards to him being there as long as he was all the travel as he was getting prepared. But the champ actually responded. The champ sent me a video. Dc, don't worry about us. We're in here working and I saw him in Glover Teixeira wrestling. I saw him in Glover Teixeira trying to get ready in space. They need to be working on the wall. I saw him in Global wrestling with no shoes and snow yesterday. So I guess Pereira is telling me rain, sleet, snow, it don't matter. I'm getting my wrestling work in and that's great for me to see because I like the guy. I like what he brings to the sport. I like that he's fun and I like that he could put people out. But this is the hardest fight he's ever had in his entire career and the most difficult matchup he's ever had in the entire career. So I'm glad to see that he is doing all the things that will be necessary for him to have a chance to retain his championship, because even that is not guaranteed when you're fighting a savage like Ankalaev. That's going to be a great fight. I can't wait. But Gaethje versus whoever leading right into that fight, UFC 313 is going to be an absolute banger. Guys, thank you so much for always tapping into everything I do. I love and appreciate every one of you. Like subscribe, tell your friends to tell their friends that DC's got a YouTube channel and that I'm dropping stuff like this until next time. Peace.

[Mark Seal]

With the American Express Gold Card, I can earn four times membership rewards points at US Supermarkets. So with all these groceries, I'm also getting points. Learn [e-mail] US Explore Gold Terms and Points Gap Apply. I'm Mark Seal and I'm Nathan King.

[Nathan King]

This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

[Bobby Bones]

The five Families did not want us.

[Nathan King]

To shoot that picture.

[Mark Seal]

This podcast is based on my co host Mark Seals best selling book of the same title. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire and many others.

[Nathan King]

Yes, that was a real horse's head.

[Mark Seal]

Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bobby Bones]

Calling all Yellowstone fans, let's go to work. Join Bobby Bones on the Official Yellowstone Podcast for exclusive cast interviews, behind the scenes insights and a deep dive into the themes that have made Yellowstone a cultural phenomenon.

[Nathan King]

Our family legacy is this ranch and.

[Bobby Bones]

I protector of my life. Listen to the Official Yellowstone Podcast now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Questlove]

Hey, everybody. What's up? This is Questlove, and every year we do special programming in February for Black History Month. Now, it's especially important this year as we gear up for some new conversations. So the team and I compiled some clips from the show that are worth revisiting. In part one of the celebration of Black History Month, we're listening back to Moments with Chris Rock, Solange Prodigy, Ben Vereen, Jennifer Lewis, Angela Rye, and Gina Yashore. Listen to Questlove supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.