Dan Hooker has withdrawn from his fight with Justin Gaethje, one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
The fan favorite strikers were scheduled to face off in the five-round co-main event of UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas, but Hooker announced Tuesday, via his daughter’s YouTube channel, that he is out of the lightweight bout due to a hand injury. MMA reporter Benny P initially tweeted the news.
“Dad had a fight, or was supposed to have a fight, but I’ve busted my paw,” Hooker said.
This is a bitter pill to swallow for fight fans, who were set to watch two of MMA’s most exciting fighters square off. Gaethje has won a Fight of the Night bonus eight times in his UFC career, while Hooker has been part of three such bouts.
Rafael Fiziev was quick to volunteer his services to replace Hooker, though the UFC has yet to make an official announcement as to whether Gaethje will stay on UFC 313 or if his bout with Hooker will be re-booked for another date.
“Let’s run it back,” Fiziev wrote on Twitter, tagging Gaethje’s account.
Gaethje and Fiziev fought in a three-round thriller at UFC 286 in March 2023, with Gaethje earning a majority decision win.
Hooker was looking to capitalize on a resurgent three-fight win streak, with split nods over Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner in his past two outings. Gaethje most recently fought at UFC 300 this past April, where he lost by last-second knockout to Max Holloway in the 2024 Fight of the Year.
UFC 313 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8. In the main event, Alex Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev.
