'He didn't need to take that risk' - UFC lightweight fighter Dan Hooker believes Dricus du Plessis doesn't need to fight anyone for title shot

UFC reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya recently defeated Alex Periera to get his championship title back. However, in the short span of 2 months, ‘The Last Styleblender’ will have his first challenger as former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker who has already lost once to Adesanya will face the emerging UFC star Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290 and the winner will be facing Adesanya for a title shot.

Meanwhile, UFC lightweight veteran fighter and Adesanya’s friend Dan Hooker believes that du Plessis doesn’t need to beat Whittaker to get the title shot as he has already proved his worth for the championship fight. Du Plessis is unbeaten ever since he made his debut in UFC with a brilliant record of 5-0.

"I don't think Dricus had to beat Rob. I feel like he played that a little bit (wrong). Dricus probably could have got the title shot off of not fighting anyone. Who's the next logical next step?" Hooker said. "I'm not saying he's got no chance of beating Rob. I'm just saying it's the toughest fight in the division, and he didn't need to take that risk.

I just feel like he played that a little wrong: Dan Hooker

Hooker, who is also known as 'The Hangman' thinks that Du Plessis had a great chance to win a title opportunity without having to face another challenger, and should that not have been an option, the New Zealander thinks the South African should have demanded a fight against a middleweight like Sean Strickland that would have been "more winnable."

"I feel like he could have beat Sean Strickland and he would have got a title shot. If I had to fight Sean Strickland or Rob Whittaker, I would fight Sean Strickland. It's a better stylistic matchup for him and it's a much more winnable fight," Hooker continued. "I just feel like he played that a little wrong."