UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker is turning heads far beyond the Octagon with his unorthodox and wildly entertaining take on a combat sports promotion. What started in his backyard has evolved into one of the most talked-about underground combat events in New Zealand—a $50,000 all-female tournament unlike anything the country or the sport has ever seen.
Dubbed “The Baddest B***h in Town of Auckland,” the tournament broke ground as New Zealand’s first all-female backyard event, offering female brawlers from all walks of life a chance at serious prize money. Brawlers competed in rapid one-minute rounds designed to strip the sport down to its rawest form—intense fast-paced and emotionally gripping. To win the tournament and take home the $50,000 prize a competitor had to win five bouts in a single night.
The weight disparity alone turned heads—the lightest brawler weighed 60kg while the heaviest tipped the scales at 180kg. “That’s a cr*** in most other countries but not in New Zealand for some reason,” Hooker joked acknowledging the spectacle he’d engineered. These David vs Goliath matchups were part of the appeal—offering not just physical combat but an unpredictable narrative arc with every bout.
Oscar Willis of The Mac Life who secured exclusive behind-the-scenes access reported that the most recent event had moved from Hooker’s backyard to Uncle Lingling’s bike shop after police drones were spotted surveilling the founder’s home. “They’ve been upgraded to the special crimes unit,” Hooker quipped embracing the renegade spirit of the event.
Despite its outlaw energy the tournament was tightly organized and professionally overseen. Safety was paramount—a team of judges and medical professionals were on site and strict rules were enforced—closed-fist strikes only no slapping or clinching and certainly no scratching. Referee Tony oversaw the action while the boundaries of the “ring” were formed by spectators in a human-rope system evoking the spirit of old-school backyard brawls.
The brawlers themselves brought the drama. Some had formal training others came in on grit and heart alone. One brawler in her seventies reportedly took out her false teeth and offered to throw down unfazed by the crowd or the stakes. According to Willis even the weaker matchups were entertaining thanks to the one-minute format:
“Even if a (bout) sucks you’re 60 seconds away from the next one.”
Behind the scenes the energy was just as intense. One altercation between a spectator and a known UFC brawler nearly derailed the event—until Hooker stepped in with a warning:
“400 people here will kick your head in if this escalates.”
The crowd got the message—this was a space for brawlers only.
The emotional core of the event came when three teammates entered the same bracket with two eventually facing off in the semifinals. The tension was palpable adding a layer of psychological warfare to an already brutal format.
In the end a brawler named Nini emerged victorious surviving five grueling bouts to walk away with the full purse. It wasn’t just a financial win—it was a declaration that alternative formats could offer serious legitimacy especially for women in combat sports.
As Hooker’s events grow in popularity so does their exclusivity. Attendance is tightly limited—each brawler gets only one guest and tickets are nearly impossible to score. According to Willis people stop Hooker in the street begging to get in but the UFC veteran holds firm to the underground ethos.
Looking ahead there’s no sign Hooker will slow down. With plans to experiment with new locations evolving weight classes and changing brawler demographics his vision is clearly long-term. By blending nostalgia with innovation Hooker has created a sustainable model for combat entertainment—one that cuts through the noise of overproduced nights and gets back to what fans really crave: raw unscripted intensity fueled by heart and hunger.
Dan Hooker’s all-female backyard brawls aren’t just a novelty—they’re a movement. And if the crowd reactions brawler turnout and viral moments are any indication this is only the beginning.
