Dan Hooker wished to battle at UFC 313, regardless of having a damaged hand.
On Tuesday, information broke that Hooker is out of his scheduled five-round co-main occasion battle towards Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 subsequent Saturday. The No. 6-ranked light-weight revealed the data on his daughter’s YouTube channel, noting he “broke his paw.” Just a little later, “The Hangman” clarified precisely what occurred when talking with Sky Sports activities New Zealand.
“One of many paws isn’t doing too properly,” Hooker stated whereas exhibiting the distinction in his fingers. “I used to be sparring final night time, as I do, simply letting some hooks go, simply throwing some bombs down vary, and I simply caught one of many boys on the highest of the dome with my knuckle. I don’t suppose an excessive amount of of it however they despatched me off to get a CT scan. Had a bit of CT scan and so they informed me my hand is fractured.”
As issues stand proper now, Hooker isn’t certain what occurs subsequent. The battle with Gaethje was one of the anticipated of the yr and will have decided the subsequent light-weight title challenger, however “The Hangman” says he’s doesn’t know if the promotion will wait and rebook it or discover a alternative in lower than two weeks’ discover.
“So yeah, I clearly nonetheless would battle,” Hooker stated. “[Laughs] However with the medicals they squeeze your fingers and [makes face and screams]. So we’ll see the way it all performs out. … We’ll see if we are able to kick this battle down the highway or we’ll simply wait and see.
“It’s unlucky that it was this shut. Clearly, gutted for all of the followers that I do know that have been excited for this battle. That’s most likely the principle factor, I believe. The Lords of Warfare weren’t completely happy, and so they took it away from you.”
If the promotion does select to interchange Hooker, there are not any scarcity of fighters prepared to step up. Rafael Fiziev, Mateusz Gamrot, and Renato Moicano have been all fast to throw their identify within the hat to battle Gaethje at UFC 313.
