UFC fighter Dan “Hangman” Hooker is taking his controversial one-minute scraps down south.
What started in his own backyard is now being set up in Christchurch, and he’s after a very specific set of applicants.
This time around, Hooker is asking for men “the system failed,” specifically “convicts” to apply.
The live-streamed event will take place in mid-September, with 32 men (100kg max) going head-to-head in a "battle royale" style scrap for a $50,000 cash prize.
Hooker has previously faced backlash for these events.
Back in June, Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan called the scraps “straight-out thuggery” while speaking to RNZ’s Checkpoint, warning that someone could get seriously hurt.
“They're just absolutely smashing each other, and we're going to see somebody get seriously hurt - if not killed.”
But Hooker’s not fazed by criticism, saying the haters are just having a cry.
"There's a few lefties having a sulk, but once everyone watches the full 45 minutes and sees the respect for the fighters… since when did putting gloves on in the backyard and having a punch-up become illegal?" he said on 'The Ariel Helwani Show'.
He told The Rock’s Morning Rumble he’s always looking for ways to level up.
“I could make it better,” he said.
“It would be so cool to watch live, because start to finish, I knock 30 fights out. I would knock the whole tournament out in an hour.”
As the event continues to grow nationwide, the priority has to be on keeping it all above board and make sure it doesn’t end in disaster.
