Dan Hooker has officially withdrawn from his UFC 313 bout against Justin Gaethje due to a hand injury, leaving the highly anticipated lightweight clash in limbo. The fight was set for March 8, but Hooker’s exit was first reported by MMA journalist Benny P on X.
The UFC has not yet announced a replacement for Gaethje, who now awaits a new opponent with less than two weeks until the event. Known for his all-action style, Gaethje was expected to face a tough test against Hooker, who had previously admitted the brutal toll the fight would take.
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“I know full well, 100 percent, that no matter whether his arm gets raised, my arm gets raised, I’m going straight on a stretcher,” Hooker had told ESPN Australia.
With time running out, the UFC faces a difficult task in securing a viable replacement for Gaethje. An official statement from the promotion is still pending.
