‘The Hangman’ of New Zealand Prepares His Noose in Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan or ‘Ahalkalakets’ is going face-to-face with Dan Hooker ‘The Hangman’ at Doha, Qatar on November 22nd. For Arman, the key will be finding a way around the older fighter’s height and reach advantage. After all, Dan didn’t earn his nickname without reason. As the veteran, Hooker mirrors his age gap in a similar fashion to how Randy Brown fought Gabriel Bonfim. To win, Hooker will need to avoid absorbing too many significant strikes, a problem that has appeared throughout his career. Statistically, he takes more damage per fight than It would be best if Dan could capitalize on his reach to avoid Arman’s strategic punches that floored Beneil Dariush in just one minute and four seconds. Beneil, notably, absorbs fewer strikes per minute than ‘The Hangman’. Hooker can compensate for this by maintaining his high output; he throws more strikes per minute than Arman. Accuracy, however, will be paramount if Hooker is to challenge Tsarukyan’s orthodox stance effectively.
Tsarukyan will look to close the distance if Hooker’s strikes start finding their mark. Expect Arman to initiate grappling exchanges and seek an early takedown if he senses danger. Dan is known to have a higher takedown defense than Arman to circumvent that event. However, it would be in Tsarukyan’s best interest to simply exhaust ‘The Hangman’ before he tightens any noose on the ground in the form of a counter. If Arman could succeed by exhausting his opponent, it might be enough to secure a later knockout from a standing position. Dan will hold out, though, as he has in his last three fights, if he simply can avoid the strikes that won Arman his last four fights.
Three key predictors may decide this matchup: total strikes landed, striking accuracy, and control time during takedowns. Both fighters are evenly matched in weight and pace, and if the fight goes to the ground, fatigue could quickly become a factor. Both fighters are equally accurate in the punches they have landed per minute, and even one more accurate punch one fighter throws than the other may be the inch the victor of this fight needs. Finally, accurate punches or not, the punches thrown in this fight and simply landing outside of the choice of body part will be the denier of any ground gained while standing. Arman is the favored winner because he can do this and has done it to secure multiple KO/TKOs in his previous fights. If ‘The Hangman’ is to win, he will need to create space just long enough for Arman to hang himself and waste energy on the space between them.
