UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is stirring up controversy once again as he prepares to host his second backyard combat event, this time featuring 32 women competing for a substantial $50,000 prize.
The New Zealand-based fighter announced the upcoming female “battle royal” alongside former world middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a Facebook post that has already generated significant buzz in the combat sports community.
“Alright, we are going to let the girls play next, we are going to find out who’s the baddest b***h in town,” Hooker declared in the announcement video.
Adesanya emphasized the financial stakes involved, stating: “50k, one minute, or just as long as it takes to finish these b*****s in his backyard.”
The event follows Hooker’s controversial format of one-minute combat encounters, dubbed “1 min scraps,” which he successfully launched in May with a 32-man tournament. The application process for female competitors appears unconventional, with Hooker requesting potential participants to provide their name, weight, and record, while also asking for “a little video of you doing something illegal so I know I can trust ya.”
The inaugural event in May attracted significant criticism from boxing authorities and law enforcement. New Zealand’s Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan condemned the spectacle as “straight-out thuggery,” expressing concerns about participant safety.
“What you’ve got there is just thugs getting in there and going out and they’re just like absolutely smashing each other and we’re going to see somebody get seriously hurt, if not killed,” Meehan warned at the time.
The May event also drew police attention when a senior Mongrel Mob member participated while wearing an ankle bracelet, leading to a police referral.
Despite the backlash, Hooker has remained defiant about his backyard events. Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show last month, he dismissed critics and defended his concept.
“There’s a few lefties having a sulk, but once everyone watches the full 45 minutes and sees the respect for the participants, since when did putting gloves on in the backyard and having a punch up become illegal?” Hooker argued. “Since when is that a crime?”
The UFC veteran has made it clear that this female tournament represents just the beginning of his expanded backyard event series, indicating plans to host additional competitions in the future.
The announcement has reignited debates about unsanctioned combat sports events and their place in the broader combat sports landscape, with supporters praising the grassroots approach while critics continue to raise safety and legal concerns.
