Daniel Cormier: Wear-and-tear may have Dan Hooker in gatekeeper phase of career

Daniel Cormier thinks Dan Hooker’s best days might be behind him.

Hooker (21-12 MMA, 11-8 UFC) is now 1-4 in his past five fights. Most recently, he was stopped by Arnold Allen in his return to featherweight this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 204.

It’s been a rough stretch for Hooker, who once was a title contention threat in the 155-pound division. He attempted to seek new life by returning to featherweight, but was finished in the first round by surging contender Arnold Allen in London.

“I think we have our answer now as to where Dan Hooker is in his career, and it’s sobering,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “It’s actually sad for a fan favorite like Hooker. But we know now that Dan Hooker is now on the tail end because when you start to become the person that is there to uplift the younger talent, the gatekeeper per se, like you always say: ‘I try to make everybody a gatekeeper.’ It seems like now he will continue to find himself in those types of matchups.”

Cormier said Hooker’s back-to-back wars against Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier took a toll on “The Hangman” and his ability to take damage in a fight.

Despite UFC president Dana White not being concerned about Hooker’s future, Cormier isn’t sure if the 32-year-old can return to top form.

“Even though he didn’t go out against Felder, he didn’t go out against Dustin Poirier, he took an absolute beating,” Cormier said. “And now you’re starting to see all the wear and tear from those fights really start to show themselves because he’s not the same guy. And it’s sad to watch, because he’s not an old guy, but he’s also down a weight class. And as we’ve seen time and time again, these guys suck all that weight, it does affect the chin a little bit.

“I think the weight cut and all the damage he’s taken over the course of a really tough career is starting to really wear on Dan Hooker, and I don’t think we’ll ever see him the same guy again. It’s sad.”