Dan Hooker simply cannot catch a break from injuries. The broken hand that cost fans a blockbuster UFC 313 showdown between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. still continues to haunt the Kiwi’s return dreams. ‘The Hangman’ had even boldly predicted that one of them would leave the Octagon on a stretcher at UFC 313. But days before the fight, Hooker dropped a bombshell through his daughter Zoe’s vlog: “We took a little break—we’ve been busy. Dad was gearing up for a fight, but I’ve gone and busted my paw.” His candid confession sent shockwaves through the MMA world, leaving fans disappointed and eager for that banger showdown. With Hooker forced to withdraw, Rafael Fiziev stepped up to fill the void. Now, months later, Hooker has finally opened up about his injury and lingering effects that are delaying his return.
Dan Hooker fractured his right hand two weeks prior to the UFC 313 superfight. Injuries are nothing new for the Kiwi fighter, but what brought him down this time was the severity of the broken hand. To recover, ‘The Hangman’ had to undergo surgery. However, the problem didn’t improve; instead, it worsened. Excessive scar tissue had built up, restricting his movements. To properly heal, Hooker had to undergo a second surgery. Back-to-back surgeries might break the spirit of any other fighter, but for Dan Hooker, it’s just another day at the office. So, when can we expect to see him back inside the Octagon?
When asked about his future plans at the ‘Our Yeah’ meet and greet, the Kiwi fighter revealed that he might need to take a couple of months off before making his comeback.“Yeah, I just had surgery on Monday. They cleaned her up, and I’m banging “Yeah, my plaster fell off—just a little bit of a scratch, baby. But now, well, six weeks back and a couple of months—you know, we’re back in action. So, we’re back in no time.”
We are already halfway through the year, and the UFC CEO has announced events up to UFC 319. If the Kiwi wants to make a comeback, it will likely be either at the end of this year or early next year, as many fans are anticipating. It is worth noting that ‘The Hangman’ recently shared an update about his second injury. Uploading a photo of himself on his Instagram handle, Hooker said, “They were cutting into my hand you could see the screws and stuff. I was awake for a bit, then I was like, nah, this kinda hurts now [laughing]. Then they knocked me out for the second half of it. But all good, sweet as.”
“I’ll be back to it in no time,” said Dan Hooker on his Instagram regarding his comeback. However, his latest updates paint a grimmer picture — we might have to wait a bit longer to witness his return. So, what’s next for Dan Hooker? Lets have a look at it.
Dan Hooker’s BMF belt fight plans ruined by surgery
At UFC 318, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will battle for the BMF title in what will be Poirier’s final fight inside the Octagon. As both prepare for their highly anticipated trilogy showdown, Dan Hooker has expressed his willingness to serve as the backup fighter for the UFC 318 mega-fight. Hooker was preparing to return this summer, however, his second injury wrecked his comeback plans. While having a conversation with Sky Sports New Zealand, ‘The Hangman’ asserted, “I did know that this fight was going down for a long time because they wanted me to backup for this fight.”
He further added, “They wanted to get me another lightweight, just fight any old lightweight on the card, and if either of these guys got injured, the UFC wanted me to step in and backup for the BMF title. So it would’ve been an incredible opportunity. Unfortunately, I need a second surgery on my hand.”
Dan Hooker’s injury could have taken a serious turn if he hadn’t opted for that second surgery. While it may have temporarily delayed his comeback plans, it undoubtedly spared him from a far more dangerous physical setback. ‘The Hangman’ hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since narrowly outpointing Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 last August, notching his third consecutive win and keeping his momentum alive. Given that, when do you think Hooker will be available for a fight and do you except ‘The Hangman’ to fight Justin Gaethje in the future? State your opinion in the comments below.
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