The much-anticipated fight between Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje, originally set as the co-main event of UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas, has been canceled. Dan Hooker announced his withdrawal from the lightweight bout due to a hand injury. This announcement, made via his daughter’s YouTube channel, is a disappointment for fans eager to witness this epic showdown.
MMA reporter Benny P first broke the news through a tweet. In a light-hearted statement, Hooker said, “Dad had a fight, or was supposed to have a fight, but I’ve busted my paw,” expressing both humor and regret over the cancellation.
This withdrawal is indeed a bitter pill for fight enthusiasts. Both Hooker and Gaethje are known for their thrilling performances in the octagon. Gaethje, a fan favorite, has earned a "Fight of the Night" bonus eight times during his UFC career, while Hooker has been part of three such electrifying bouts.
In the wake of Hooker’s withdrawal, Rafael Fiziev has stepped forward, offering to replace Hooker in the fight against Gaethje. Although the UFC has yet to confirm if Gaethje will remain on the UFC 313 card or if the matchup will be rescheduled, Fiziev took to Twitter, suggesting a rematch with Gaethje. “Let’s run it back,” Fiziev tweeted, tagging Gaethje’s account.
The pair previously engaged in a three-round thriller at UFC 286 in March 2023, where Gaethje secured a majority decision victory over Fiziev.
Dan Hooker was riding a wave of success with a resurgent three-fight win streak, including split decision victories over Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner. Meanwhile, Justin Gaethje most recently competed at UFC 300 this past April, where he suffered a last-second knockout loss to Max Holloway in what was deemed the 2024 Fight of the Year.
As the situation develops, fight fans eagerly await an official announcement from the UFC regarding the future of Gaethje's participation in UFC 313.
