UFC lightweight star Dan Hooker has criticised the UFC over a lack of respect.It is for that reason that Hooker refuses to rush back from injury for a headline bout at UFC Perth on September 28.Hooker has tested his mettle against the UFC’s best in his 11-year careerGettyHe boasts a professional MMA record of 24 wins and 12 lossesGettyThe 35-year-old from New Zealand hasn’t fought in Dana White‘s promotion since a split decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot in August 2024.He was scheduled to meet Justin Gaethje in a thrilling co-main event at UFC 313 in March, but withdrew from the bout after suffering a nasty hand injury that required surgery.UFC announced this month it would be returning to Australia for a Fight Night in Perth on September 28 at RAC Arena.Hooker had been eyeing up the card for his return to the sport, calling out the likes of top lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira this week.But he insists it will now be booked on his ‘own terms’ after a run-in with UFC higher-ups last month.“Obviously, it would have been cool to go back and fight in Perth to headline with Arman,” Hooker explained on Submission Radio.“It would have been a bit soon, and a bit of a rush for [my] hand to be good by then, but I still was going to do it just because I wanted to do it for the fans, and do it for the UFC.“I would have rushed back and I would have fought early, then I went over to watch Kai [Kara-France at UFC 317].”Bro, [the UFC] tried to get me out of bed at 7:30 [am] in the morning, because they booked me for some s*** …“And then, because I slept in and I didn’t go to the UFC thing, they cancelled my tickets to Kai’s fight.”‘The Hangman’ said he won’t break his back for a company that doesn’t respect himGettyKara-France, who also hails from New Zealand, challenged for the flyweight title at UFC 317, but wound up tapping out to a rear-naked choke from the champion Alexandre Pantoja in the third round of their co-main event bout.Hooker explained how he had been weighing up whether to ‘rush back and fight injured’ at UFC Perth, but has since changed his mind, as the company cancelled his tickets.“I would have fought, I would have fought injured,” he added.“But then someone at a desk has crossed my name off a list. You work in the office, brother, you think there would be a little bit more respect there for guys who literally give their lives? “The amount of blood, sweat and tears I’ve poured into putting shows on for their company, and then I thought there would’ve been a bit more respect there. “But there’s not, business is business. We can fight on my terms, [the UFC] obviously wanted me to fight in Perth, but we can fight on my terms.“If [the UFC aren’t] going to show me any respect, then I don’t feel like I’m obligated to break my back for them.”Hooker believes Tsarukyan is likely to be his next opponentGettyAs the No. 6-ranked lightweight, Hooker is likely to face an elite opponent at 155 lbs in his next fight.Who is the #1 lightweight in UFC?Ilia Topuria is the current UFC lightweight champion.Although Islam Makhachev is officially stated as the No. 1 contender, he has moved up a division and is expected to take on UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in his next fight.This means that when the rankings update, Tsarukyan will be viewed as the No. 1 at lightweight.Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Gaethje follow, before you reach Hooker, while Liverpool’s MMA star Paddy Pimblett comes in at No. 9.Hooker went on to say in his conversation with Submission Radio that he believes Topuria will make his first title defence against Gaethje, with Holloway fighting Oliveira, therefore leaving him to contest Tsarukyan in a title eliminator bout. “The Hangman’ also added that he ‘likes the sound’ of the UFC’s annual New York card in November.