Dan Hooker (23-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) has withdrawn from his UFC Austin fight against Bobby Green (31-14-1 MMA, 12-9-1 UFC), scheduled for December 2, after breaking his arm.
Hooker broke his right arm in training while blocking a kick. He had previously injured the same arm in his UFC 290 victory over Jalin Turner in July.
"Sparring yesterday, blocked a bit of a kick, went in for an X-ray, she's casted," Hooker told Submission Radio.
"It just broke in the same place. It kind of is what it is. I took a risk. I obviously was coming back a little quicker than… yeah, it's all on me, brother. I rushed to come back."
However, he was still uncertain about whether it was a recurrence of the previous injury. The New Zealand lightweight star has already consulted a surgeon and is awaiting confirmation.
"He said there's like two things. It's either broken in the exact same spot, which means that just the bone didn't fuse properly. The bone was never fused properly and it was like inevitable that this was going to happen again or it's a new break," he said.
Hooker optimistic about fast recovery
Despite this setback, Hooker maintains an optimistic outlook and anticipates a swift recovery, with a possibility of featuring in UFC 300 next spring or early summer.
"I was just that close. I could smell it, I could taste it, I could feel the crowd. I was on fire," said Hooker.
"I took a risk, I'll just go back, get it healed properly, and I'll be back. UFC 300's in five months. That's a good target. Everything happens for a reason. That one wasn't meant to be. That's a comfortable target for three months of rehab and the training camp so onto the future."
Before his withdrawal, Hooker had subtly made a narrative around the bout, suggesting it could be considered a BMF title eliminator.
Although it wasn't officially designated as such, "The Hangman" admitted to personally feeling that way, speculating that Green might have shared a similar sentiment.
"That's the people's title, you know what I mean, like if you call your own shots with a thing like that, I feel like Bobby was thinking the exact same thing I was thinking," said Hooker.
Kevin Holland offers to replace Hooker
Ranked at No. 9 in the lightweight division, Hooker would've faced Green out of back-to-back wins. He has showcased his skills against notable opponents like Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta and Dustin Poirier.
Beyond his achievements in the Octagon, Hooker is a highly respected figure in New Zealand, admired for his charismatic personality and deep passion for martial arts. Serving as a role model for aspiring MMA fighters in his homeland, Hooker's journey from local success to international recognition has made a positive impact on both the sport and his community.
As Hooker has officially withdrawn from the fight, the UFC is now looking for his replacement to fight. Kevin Holland has emerged as a potential opponent, openly challenging Green to a welterweight battle on an Instagram comment section. There's no response from Green as of now.
