Kiwi UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has heard the doubters.
In recent months, they've been more vocal than ever, as pundits and fans alike have taken exception to Hooker's rise into the division's upper tier, with his split-decision Auckland win over Paul Felder widely dismissed as classic 'hometown cooking'.
You only need to glimpse at some of the replies to Hooker's social media posts - particularly Twitter - for evidence.
"It's because we're from such a small part of the world," Hooker tells Newshub. "We're from a tiny island in the South Pacific with a population of five million people, in comparison to some of these big superstars of the sport.
"My fanbase is a lot smaller than them, so when our fanbases meet and they argue, there's an overwhelming torrent of American doubters - but that's something that I've just come to learn.
"I fight for my country. I fight for my people, so I'm happy to represent and I wouldn't change that for anything."
The chatter is all motivation for Hooker, who's now highly skilled in the art of humbling those who query his talent.
Victory over Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Sunday (NZ time) would have plenty eating a hearty serving of humble pie.
So, what makes Poirier such a prized target? Simply put, it's pedigree.
The 31-year-old is one of the division's most game competitors - a supremely skilled, hard-hitting boxer, who's an imposing combination of danger, durability and an iron will.
Poirier has been a fixture in the division since 2015, but his four-fight win streak against the cream of the class in late 2017 established 'The Diamond' as one of its premier fighters.
The stretch included finishes of ex-lightweight champions Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez, as well as current interim champion Justin Gaethje, still the most recent loss on his record.
Poirier capped that run with a tour de force against featherweight champion Max Holloway, clinching a comprehensive decision win to snap the Hawaiian's own 13-fight unbeaten run and claim the interim lightweight title.
While he was unable to consolidate that title against champion Khabib Numragomedov, a loss to the Russian phenomenon is far from a death knell.
Hooker will be Poirier's first opponent since that submission loss back in September 2019 and the Kiwi is braced for the American's best.
"I don't feel like a loss would deter him at all," Hooker admits. "If anything, if you can look back at his career and look back at my career, a loss really propels us to improve, and a loss has motivated me and Dustin like nothing else does.
"I'm expecting a highly motivated Dustin Poirier. He's been sitting out for a really long period of time… and I feel like a man who can pick himself up after a loss is a lot more dangerous."
Unfortunately for Hooker, while the winner of this bout will undoubtedly near the front of the title-challenger queue, the ever-present shadow of Conor McGregor - retired or not - along with Gaethje and Tony Ferguson, will likely put paid to any title shot, at least in the short-to-medium term.
Last week, Gaethje threw an online jab at Hooker, predicting Poirier would "merk" the Kiwi.
Of course, Hooker responded with an immediate challenge of his own, laying down the gauntlet to Gaetjhe and his "plastic title".
The American - one of the sport's hottest properties after demolishing Ferguson in May - has his hands full, as he attempts to solve the Khabib puzzle.
But Hooker realises the value in just hearing his name in the same breath, believing he could be a mere turn of events away from a headline spot.
"It's a good sign, when a guy who's set to fight for the title is commenting on you or speaking your name," he admits. "It definitely brings you into the picture.
"Fighting's not a perfect sport - you can write the story, but it doesn't mean it's going to turn out that way.
"Khabib could get injured, Justin Gaethje could get injured and then I'm the guy who's going to step into the spot."
Regardless of which way the result goes this weekend, the fans will surely be the winners on the day.
Both Poirier and Hooker are renowned entertainers in The Octagon. Through his past six bouts, Poirier has earned a staggering seven performance bonuses, while Hooker has three, with his blockbuster against Felder still fresh in the memory.
If Poirier has an Achilles heel, it's probably his propensity to be dragged into firefights on the feet. He's durable, but is he Felder durable?
Hooker has his doubts.
"We'll see if he can take the shots. He's pretty confident that he can and he'll beat me up. Everyone else seems to think that too, but I'm confident I can put him away."
When you possess the diverse, eight-point offence and power Hooker does, that finish is only ever a knee or elbow away.
Just ask Gilbert Burns, the surging Brazilian welterweight set to fight Kamaru Usman for the title next month. Before his current six-win streak, Burns' last loss came courtesy of Hooker, who landed a pinpoint left cross that led to a first-round KO.
"I've got a lot of doubters coming into this fight," says Hooker. "What will change that is going out and putting Dustin Poirier away.
"His last fight was for the world championship, so if I can put him away, especially with a KO, that puts me next in line and that shuts a lot of mouths up.
"The world championship is something I've set for myself as my main life's goal. I see this as the next step towards getting that world title."
Join us on Sunday afternoon for live updates, as Dan Hooker faces Dustin Poirier at UFC Fight Night
