The UFC 313 fight card lost its scheduled co-main event. Lightweights Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje were slated to clash in a fight that promised excitement but a hand injury has forced Hooker out of the fight.
Hooker revealed the injury in a video posted to his daughter’s YouTube channel on Tuesday.
“Dad had a fight, or was supposed to have a fight,” Hooker said in the video. “But I’ve busted my paw.”
Hooker later spoke with Sky Sports New Zealand and revealed that he fractured his left hand.
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Hooker (24-12) is ranked No. 6 in the lightweight division and has won has last three fights. A win over No. ranked Gaethje would have put Hooker squarely in title contender.
Gaethje (25-5) last fought at UFC 300 last April, losing to Max Holloway by knockout in a fight for the symbolic ‘BMF belt.’ At the time of publication it was unclear whether Gaethje would remain on the fight card against a new opponent or be pushed back to a later event.
Once the news broke that Hooker was out of the fight, several fighters offered to step in including No. 11 ranked Rafael Fiziev, No. 10 ranked Renato Moicano, and No. 8 ranked Mateusz Gamrot.
