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Dan Hooker vs Benoit Saint Denis UFC 325 Preview: Tips, Odds, & Predictions

Date: Sunday, 1 February 2026 Time: 02:00 AM GMT Venue: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia UFC 325 has a packed undercard, and a lightweight contest between Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis serves as a tantalizing appetizer to the highly anticipated second edition of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. After a bruising defeat in a title showdown with Arman Tsarukyan last November in Qatar, Hooker will want to show the world that he means business. After back-to-back defeats against UFC legend Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, the Frenchman was back to his best, rattling off three impressive wins in a row. This contest could make for compelling viewing, and there will be no shortage of online UFC betting sites serving up lines for punters to latch onto.

Charles Perrin
Charles Perrin

Last updated: 2026-01-19

Chad Nagel

5 minutes read

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Dan Hooker of New Zealand reacts after a submission loss against Arman Tsarukyan

Dan Hooker of New Zealand / Getty Images

The New Zealander, who is sixth in the lightweight rankings, boasts a 24-13-0 record, and he sits two spots above his opponent. Saint Denis, nevertheless, is a formidable competitor. 

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

No online betting sites in the USA are the same; however, ensuring there are Moneyline odds available is a must. We’ve whizzed over to one of the top operators in the business to see what the pre-match prices look like for Hooker vs Saint Denis.

  1. Dan Hooker: 11/5 (3.20) – 31.3%

  2. Benoit Saint Denis: 17/50 (1.34) – 74.6%

    *Odds courtesy of FanDuel, subject to change.

Tale of the Tape

Some UFC betting sportsbooks will have a few cursory stats to glance over, but at SportsBoom, we like to dig deeper. We’ve seen how Hooker and Saint Denis stack up by compiling a table illustrating key differences.

Reading up on these before the fight can help you nail your UFC betting strategies.

Tale of the Tape

AttributeHookerSaint Denis
Age3530
Height6’0 (183cm)5’11 (180cm)
Weight155.5lbs (70.5kg)155.6lbs (70.57kg)
Reach75.5” (192cm)73” (185cm)
Record24-13-016-3-0
KO/TKO11 Wins (46%)5 Wins (31%)
Submission7 Wins (28%)11 Wins (69%)
Decisions6 Wins (25%)0 Wins (0%)
Sportsboom Event Table Logo

Dan Hooker News

Only a couple of months ago, Dan Hooker, who is known as “The Hangman”, was left crushed after his tilt at the lightweight title was abruptly halted at the hands of Arman Tsarukyan. In that bout, Tsarukyan bossed proceedings and clinched the win with an arm triangle choke submission in Round 2.

Although he goes into his bout with Saint Denis as the underdog, Hooker doesn’t mind being the party pooper, and he’s ready to put himself in the firing line.

Hooker has been sparring hard in the gym, and his ambition to reach the top is evident. A 24-13 record is nothing to be scoffed at, and his striking is exceptional. On average, he lands just shy of five significant strikes per minute, and his takedown defence of 77% also underlines his resilience.

A win over Saint Denis will not only restore Hooker’s confidence, but it will also put him back on the title trail.

Benoit Saint Denis

With his “God of War” nickname, Benoit Saint Denis embraces conflict, and he throws himself into every fight. The French lightweight prospect, who has a background in the French Special Air Service, is unflinching in his approach, and he can withstand the pressure.

Currently eighth in the rankings, Saint Denis has a very respectable record of 16-3-0 record. Following an eye injury sustained against Renato Mociano, where he suffered a TKO/KO, Saint Denis hasn’t looked back since. Three victories on the trot against Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, and Beneil Dariush, underlined Saint Denis’ efficiency and ruthlessness in the Octagon.

Saint Denis often cuts a calm and composed figure, and while he will be a long way from home Down Under, he will be looking to ruffle Hooker’s feathers and silence the Aussie crowd.

Suggested Bets

It’s now time to dive into the markets and pluck out three lines worth pursuing at our preferred MMA betting sites.

  1. Dan Hooker to Win by KO/TKO: Although Hooker has only won one of his past four bouts via TKO/KO, this method of victory has been a dominant feature during his career. He’s chalked up 46% of his victories this way, and with his aggressive, unrelenting approach, Hooker could well score a TKO/KO victory, and bring the roof down despite his New Zealand ties (3/2 with DraftKings)

  2. Benoit Saint Denis to Win: Saint Denis may seem the more well-rounded and accomplished fighter judging by his record. Although he’s lower than Hooker in the rankings, Saint Denis has big ambitions, and he could put in a winning performance that will put him on the radar of the other stars in the division. (35/50 with BetRivers)

  3. Benoit Saint Denis Over 0.5 Takedowns: Saint Denis slightly nudges out Hooker on the takedown stat front. His takedown defense might be lower than Hooker’s, but he’s achieved 37% takedown accuracy, which is worth drawing attention to. Saint Denis to score Over 0.5 takedowns during the contest is appealing. (9/5 with Caesars Sportsbook)

Value Bets

  1. Benoit Saint Denis to Win by Submission: Saint Denis is a dangerous fighter, and he has loads of weapons at his disposal. Nearly 70% of his wins have come via submission, and apart from the well-constructed arm triangle choke he delivered against Prepolec, the rear naked choke (face crank) he produced against Ruffy was special, so Hooker has been warned. (2/1 with Hard Rock Bet)

  2. Under 3.5 Rounds: Even though this is a five-round contest, neither fighter has been in the Octagon for more than three rounds lately. Indeed, eight of Saint Denis’ 10 victories have come in two rounds or fewer. While the crowd will want this fight to go the distance, it could be a quick bout. (4/1 with Fanatics Sportsbook)

  3. Dan Hooker to Win by Split Decision: Hooker has had mixed fortunes with contests that have gone down to the judges’ scorecards. Of his 37 fights, he has won six and lost six of his bouts that have gone to a split decision. If Hooker were to prevail by decision, it would be a bit of a surprise. (4/1 with bet365)

Prediction: Benoit Saint Denis to Win

There are some fascinating angles and potential subplots to this bout. While Hooker will be looking to make amends following his defeat to Tsarukyan, Saint Denis is highly unpredictable, and he could come firing out of the blocks.

Although the Australian crowd will be getting behind Hooker, Saint Denis’ excellent record, combined with his takedown defense stats (70%), makes him a formidable opponent. While this will be the last fight on the undercard before Volkanovski vs Lopes 2, this could be a real cracker, and one that provides lots of drama. We think Saint Denis might have too much for Hooker and come out on top.

Charles Perrin
Charles PerrinSports Writer

Charles Perrin has spent more than six years covering the world of sports betting, during which he has collaborated with some of the most recognised sportsbooks in the UK, including industry leaders such as bet365 and William Hill.