Dan Hooker is out of his fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, dealing the March 8 card a heavy blow, and fans have had a variety of reactions to the disappointing news.
The lightweight contest was expected to steal the show next Saturday and possibly be a leading candidate for Fight of the Year given Hooker and Gaethje’s penchant for putting on thrilling slugfests. However, a hand injury forced Hooker to withdraw, leaving Gaethje without a dance partner. For now.
Several fighters have stepped up to the plate offering to replace Hooker and square off with “The Highlight,” including past Gaethje opponent Rafael Fiziev and recent last-second lightweight title challenger Renato Moicano. It is not yet known if UFC is actively seeking a replacement for Hooker or if his bout with Gaethje will be rescheduled for another date.
Fans had their own suggestions as to who could step in at UFC 313, while others just jumped in the comments to express their disappointment.
Check out reader reactions below.
