Dan Hooker targets Arman Tsarukyan for UFC return: 'I'd just like to kick his teeth in'
The fan-favorite UFC lightweight is recovering well from his hand injury and expects to be fighting again sometime in October or November, Hooker told MMA Junkie Radio at UFC X. Hooker was scheduled to fight Justin Gaethje earlier this year at UFC 313 in March, but he fractured his hand in training and was forced to withdraw from the bout. Hokker is almost in the clear, and is eager to fight again.
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"I think I'll be good to go in October, November," Hooker said. "I think Gaethje is just going to sit and wait for another title shot. It would be silly to come and fight another contender, but that's what's so interesting about the division now. The title is moving, and over the next couple of months there's going to be a lot of movement in the division. It's good."
Hooker expects Gaethje to sit out and campaign for a title shot against the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, making the re-booking of their fight unlikely, at least for the time being. Ideally, Hooker woould like to fight Arman Tsarukyan, also a top contender in the division.
"Arman has been calling me out, and that's the No. 1 contender," Hooker said. "No one likes the guy, so I'd just like to kick his teeth in."
Tsarukyan is one of the tougher fights in the division, and considered by many the best grappler in the weight class. When asked why he'd want such a tough stylistic matchup, and likely less exciting than the Gaethje fight, Hooker had quite the response.
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"I don't give a f*ck," Hooker said. "Mine was exciting, the (Mateusz) Gamrot fight, because I was able to get up. If they can just hold you down and make it a boring fight, then that's my fault. But because my counter-wrestling is of that level and people just can't hold me down, and I'm able to scramble up to my feet, that's what makes the fight exciting."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dan Hooker wants Arman Tsarukyan in return
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New York Times
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- New York Times
Minnesota Lynx don't need to panic after Cup loss. But it may be time for adjustments
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Yahoo
an hour ago
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Sophie Cunningham's Twerk Goes Viral After Fever's Historic Commissioner's Cup Victory
The Indiana Fever just made franchise history, but all eyes were on Sophie Cunningham's postgame celebration. After the Fever's stunning 74–59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 Commissioner's Cup final, Fever reserve guard Sophie Cunningham decided to cap the night with some dance-floor flair. As her teammates rejoiced on the court and posed with the hardware, Cunningham turned her back to the camera, dropped low, and gave the lockeroom and Instagram Live a twerk, a brief but instantly viral moment that ignited a social media firestorm. Some fans were all for it. Others, not so much. Indiana's win was dominant and, more importantly, gritty. With All-Star point guard Caitlin Clark sitting out her third straight game due to a groin ailment, the Fever trailed by 13 early in the second quarter. Instead of collapsing, they flipped the switch. The Fever closed the first half on a merciless 18–0 run, turning a 27–14 deficit into a 32–27 lead at halftime and silencing the Minnesota home fans. From there, it was the Fever's game. The Fever's lead grew to 14 in the third quarter, and Minnesota was able to get no closer than six points of catching up again. Indiana's defense stifled the Lynx, holding them to 34.9% shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. Seasoned Indiana forward Natasha Howard was the unanimous Cup final MVP with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. All-Star center Aliyah Boston was similarly effective at 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Cunningham started hot off the bench to provide a clutch jolt: 13 points, seven rebounds, and three threes. But for many fans watching the game or catching the highlights online, the storyline pivoted from gritty defense to cheeky dancing. Sophie Cunningham's postgame twerk didn't last more than a few seconds, but it was long enough for the internet to divide into camps. On X (formerly Twitter), one fan gushed, 'Sophie so cute.' Another simply wrote, 'Sophie Cunningham. That's the tweet.' And of course, someone threw their support behind her completely: 'My fav WNBA player.' Yet the celebration had its fair share of detractors and skeptics. One unimpressed viewer wrote: 'ZERO motion back there. Embarrassing for an athlete.' Another took issue with the entire concept: 'Why is this the go-to for so many women? I don't get it. No matter what happens they have to do this dumb shit.' Another tweet, dripping with sarcasm, read: 'Was the twerking in the room with us..' Still, others were more playful: 'That little thing moving.' And of course, no social media moment is complete without someone shooting their shot: 'I would treat her so well man.' But the sentiment that seemed to dominate the viral moment? 'Sophie for the culture!' Though the Commissioner's Cup is technically a midseason competition and doesn't affect regular-season standings, the win and the $500,000 prize pool that came with it signal a culture shift for Indiana. The Fever are no longer the rebuilding team anchored solely by Caitlin Clark's spotlight. They are a As for Sophie Cunningham, the 28-year-old Missouri alum might not have led the team in scoring, but she certainly led the postgame conversation. The seven-year WNBA veteran has always brought energy and edge to the court, and now, apparently, to the dance floor too. Head coach Stephanie White was all business postgame. 'We have a resilient group,' White told reporters. 'They're tough – mentally, pull for one another… It's nice to take a trophy home, but this isn't the ultimate goal. It's a goal. And we've got to continue to get better.' The Fever turn their attention back to the regular season now. They begin a five-game home stand on Thursday by hosting the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Attendance will be watched closely, both for the game itself and the postgame celebration. Sophie Cunningham's twerking viral moment may have divided folks, but here's something that's not debatable: in a league still fighting for relevance in the mainstream, she made sure the Fever's win was not overlooked. And in 2025, half the game at times. The post Sophie Cunningham's Twerk Goes Viral After Fever's Historic Commissioner's Cup Victory appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Indiana Fever win WNBA Commissioner's Cup without injured Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark might have been absent through injury but that didn't stop the Indiana Fever from winning the WNBA Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday. The Fever beat the reigning champion Minnesota Lynx 74-59 with a brilliant performance at the Target Center, led by forward Natasha Howard who finished the night with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. 'You've got to have the confidence in yourself and the confidence in your teammates to allow someone else to step up in those moments, and I think that this group is learning that,' Fever coach Stephanie White said after the win. WNBA superstar Clark sat courtside to watch her teammates battle it out in the final. The 23-year-old has been sidelined with a groin injury for the last three three games now, but the Fever looked impressive without their best player. 'So proud,' Clark wrote in an Instagram Story post alongside a series of pictures celebrating the title in the locker room. Howard spearheaded a balanced attack from the Fever, who had five players in double figures on the night and didn't let an early deficit hold them back. Despite racing into a 13-point lead early in the game, the Lynx began to struggle against the tough Fever defense. Minnesota ended the night with its worst offensive performance of the season, shooting just 4-of-16 from deep, way below its season average of 9.4 made three-pointers per game. Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier was also kept relatively quiet on the night, managing just 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting to go with nine rebounds and three steals. 'Phee's a great player, but my thing was, make her take hard shots, and that's what I did tonight,' Commissioner's Cup final MVP Howard said. While 27-14 down in the second quarter, the game was looking to be getting away from the Fever but momentum quickly swung their way. The Fever ended the first half on an 18-0 run through a balanced team effort with Sophie Cunningham's hitting a pair of three-pointers in the process – the guard ended the night with 13 points. Indiana then held a 32-27 lead heading into the second half but didn't take its foot off the gas, opening up a double-digit lead with Howard getting into a rhythm. The Lynx – who own the league's best record at 14-2 – never really got close to retaking the lead after that, in what was their first home defeat of the season, though the final will not count towards the regular season standings. 'We always want to play our best basketball,' Minnesota forward Alanna Smith said after scoring 15 points. 'So we have to take this game to heart and learn from the mistakes that we made in this game, the way we showed up, the way that we prepared, and just make sure that we don't do it again.'
