A training accident pulled Dan Hooker out of UFC 313.
Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) was scheduled to fight former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in a five-round co-main event March 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), but he withdrew due to a hand injury.
“The Hangman” showed off his swollen left hand in an interview with Sky Sport New Zealand.
“One of the paws is not doing too well,” Hooker said. “I was sparring last night, just as I do, just letting some hooks go, just throwing some bombs down range, and I just caught one of the boys on the top of the dome with my knuckle. I don’t think too much of it, but they sent me off to get a CT scan. Had a little CT scan, and they told me my hand is fractured.
“So yeah, I obviously still would fight (laughs), but with the medicals they squeeze your hands, so we’ll see how it all plays out. We’ll see if we can kick this fight down the road, or we’ll just wait and see.”
Hooker, who was anticipating a post-fight hospital visit after throwing down with Gaethje, expressed his frustration of having to withdraw less than two weeks away from the fight.
“It’s unfortunate that it was this close,” Hooker said. “Obviously gutted for all the fans that I know that were excited for this fight. That’s probably the main thing, I think. The Lords of War were not happy, and they took it away from you.”
Hooker is on a three-fight winning streak, where he defeated Claudio Puelles, Jalin Turner, and most recently a Fight of the Night over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 last August.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.
