Paddy Pimblett blasts Dan Hooker as feud turns personal over late friend remark

Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker, two well-known UFC lightweight fighters, are now in a very heated argument online that has shocked many fans around the world. The trouble began in early January 2026 after a recent interview and social media posts, and it quickly turned personal and intense. Both fighters have made honest comments about each other that crossed lines and made things worse.

Paddy Pimblett is set to fight Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight title on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. Hooker, who lost his last fight to Arman Tsarukyan in November 2025, is scheduled to fight Benoît Saint-Denis on February 1, 2026, at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia. Their feud has grabbed more attention than either of their upcoming matches, with fans and media discussing every word they exchange.

Paddy Pimblett fires back after Dan Hooker’s personal message

The clash first exploded after an interview on The MMA Guru podcast when Paddy Pimblett, talking about his upcoming title fight, made a remark about Dan Hooker’s grappling skills.

Paddy Pimblett was trying to dismiss questions about fighter rankings, but his comment included a personal comparison that drew strong reactions online.

Dan Hooker, a 34-year-old New Zealand fighter known as “The Hangman,” saw Pimblett’s comment and did not hold back.

He posted a video and words on social media saying that when they saw each other in person, things would not be friendly.

Dan Hooker also referenced the late friend of Pimblett, Ricky, who died by suicide in 2022.


This reference touched a very sensitive subject as Pimblett has openly spoken about Ricky’s death and mental health before.

In his social media post, Hooker wrote that he thought they were friends once, but he no longer felt that way.

He wrote that their relationship was over and that Pimblett was not a good friend. The mention of RIP Ricky brought back a very personal memory for Pimblett, and fans reacted strongly to it.

Paddy Pimblett did not let Hooker’s post go unanswered. He replied on social media with strong words of his own, saying that he did not like Hooker’s response.

Paddy Pimblett said that referencing his friend’s death was wrong. He called that move “the lowest of the low” and said it was unacceptable in a rivalry, especially when he was preparing for a title fight.

The two fighters once appeared friendly during UFC events, like at UFC Qatar, but now that friendship has clearly changed into a serious online feud that fans are watching closely.

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