Dan Hooker recently disclosed that the UFC had intended for him to serve as a backup fighter for the highly anticipated BMF title bout between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway at UFC 318. Scheduled for July 19, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, the colossal matchup marks Poirier's retirement fight. The UFC aimed to have Hooker ready to step in if either of the main event fighters were unable to compete.
However, Hooker's plans were derailed due to a hand injury that required surgery. He explained that the injury was a result of a sparring session where he struck his partner's head with his knuckle. The impact led to a fractured hand, forcing him to withdraw from his own scheduled fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313.
"I did know that this fight was going down for a long time because they wanted me to (be a) backup for this fight," Hooker told Sky Sports New Zealand. "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.
"There's too much scar tissue because that doesn't look like a fist. I could poke someone in the eye. I said I could go to Power Slap at this point. It's not a major surgery, but they just have to cut her open and clean out some scar tissue that's kind of locking the joint up. That would only put me nine weeks before this fight, so it would take kind of a perfect storm for me to be able to be ready by then. So it doesn't look like that is going to happen."
Despite the setback, Hooker remains optimistic about his recovery and future in the octagon. He expressed his disappointment at missing the opportunity to be part of such a significant event but emphasized his commitment to returning stronger. Hooker is targeting a comeback later this year, aiming to re-enter the lightweight division and continue his pursuit of UFC gold.
The Poirier vs. Holloway fight is set to headline UFC 318, with the BMF title on the line. This bout will be their third meeting, with Poirier leading the series 2-0 . For Hooker, while missing out on this opportunity is disheartening, he remains focused on his recovery and eventual return to the UFC.
