Justin Gaethje gained’t be preventing Dan Hooker at UFC 313, however he has no scarcity of opponents keen to step as much as problem him.
A bevy of high-profile lightweights have volunteered their companies to interchange Hooker after “The Hangman” introduced Tuesday {that a} hand damage has compelled him out of his March 8 combat with Gaethje.
Rafael Fiziev was first to throw his hat within the ring, reacting to the unlucky information somewhat over an hour after it broke.
“Let’s run it again,” Fiziev wrote on Twitter.
Fiziev misplaced a majority resolution to Gaethje at UFC 286, a bout that gained Battle of the Evening honors. “Ataman” has been itching for a return to motion since injuring his knee within the second spherical of a bout towards Mateusz Gamrot. The setback has stored Fiziev on the shelf since September 2023, however a win over Gaethje would put him within the thick of the light-weight title race.
Talking of Gamrot, he additionally took to Twitter to specific his willingness to combat Gaethje. In his most up-to-date outing at UFC 305 this previous August, Gamrot misplaced a cut up resolution to Hooker and he’s desirous to get again within the win column.
“My combat with Hooker was very shut and he bought fortunate with the judges,” Gamrot wrote in a tweet tagging Gaethje’s account. “Time to repair it and show it.”
To nobody’s shock, the at all times sport Renato Moicano additionally seems to be volunteering for the short-notice alternative. He wrote on Twitter, “Two weeks is nice. I’ve sufficient time for 2 or three sparring classes. I will likely be prepared in the event that they name.”
A tweet from the account of his podcast Present Me the Cash additionally prompt his curiosity.
2 weeks is nice! I’ve sufficient time for two or 3 sparring classes! I will likely be prepared in the event that they name! #ufc
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) February 25, 2025
“Cash” Moicano has developed a repute for preventing anytime, wherever, with the newest instance being his last-second title combat towards light-weight champion Islam Makhachev this previous January. UFC 311 was speculated to be headlined by Makhachev defending his title towards Arman Tsarukyan, however when a again damage compelled Tsarukyan off the cardboard only a day earlier than combat evening, Moicano was pulled from a combat with Beneil Dariush to problem Makhachev as a substitute.
Although Moicano was submitted within the first spherical and noticed a four-fight win streak snapped, his willingness to tackle the No. 1 Pound-for-Pound fighter on this planet meant he misplaced little when it comes to reputation.
The UFC has not issued any official phrase on the standing Gaethje vs. Hooker, so it’s potential the matchup may very well be rescheduled slightly than Gaethje preventing a short-notice opponent subsequent Saturday.
UFC 313 takes place at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas on March 8. In the primary occasion, Alex Pereira defends his gentle heavyweight title towards Magomed Ankalaev.
