Dan Hooker knew exactly what he was signing up for at UFC 313. A five-round war with Justin Gaethje was never going to be a smooth ride. In an interview with ESPN Australia, ‘The Hangman’ confessed, “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.”

The fans may have been expecting a war, but it looks like fate has put a dent into those plans. The MMA world has been reeling with the news of Hooker now being out of UFC 313. While details remain scarce, reports have started trickling in, shedding light on why The Hangman won’t step into the Octagon on March 8.

Dan Hooker is out of UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje due to a “hand injury”

According to an update shared on X by ‘Spinnin Backfist’, “Dan Hooker is out of UFC 313. Hand injury. Pain.” Three words, but they hit like a knockout punch. This isn’t the first time Hooker has faced a tough stretch because of injuries. In 2023, he was scheduled to fight Jalin Turner at UFC 285 in March but had to withdraw due to a hand injury. Fast forward to UFC 290 in July, and Hooker finally faced Turner, securing a hard-fought split-decision victory. But the cost was brutal—he walked away with a broken arm.

The damage didn’t stop there. In December 2023, Hooker was booked to fight Bobby Green at UFC on ESPN 52, but injury struck again, forcing him to withdraw just a week before the event. Now, another hand issue has pulled him from the Gaethje fight.

Although an official statement from Hooker’s camp hasn’t surfaced, speculation is running wild. Did he re-injure his hand? Was it something more serious? One thing is clear—the fight with Gaethje, a matchup fans had circled on their calendars, is off the table.

Now, the focus shifts to what’s next for Justin Gaethje. Does the UFC find a short-notice replacement, or does ‘The Highlight’ get side-lined until a bigger opportunity arises?

What’s next for Gaethje at UFC 313?  

With Dan Hooker out, the UFC and Dana White have some big decisions to make. Justin Gaethje is a must-watch fighter, and keeping him on the UFC 313 card would be ideal. But who would dare step in on short notice against a man who thrives in chaos?

One option could be Mateusz Gamrot. Ranked No. 8 in the division, he lost a razor-close split decision to Hooker last year. Prior to that, he was on a three-fight win streak and has the wrestling credentials to test Gaethje. Would he be willing to step up on short notice to avenge his loss?

And what about Ilia Topuria? ‘El Matador’ has officially moved up to lightweight after vacating his featherweight title recently. While his management insists he only wants Islam Makhachev, a win over Gaethje would make that argument even stronger.

If Gamrot takes the fight, it becomes a high-stakes battle between two top-tier lightweights. And if Topuria shocks everyone by accepting, we might witness the birth of a new rivalry at 155 pounds.

For now, UFC 313 has lost one of its most anticipated fights. But in MMA, the show always goes on. Will a last-minute replacement keep Gaethje on the card, or will fans have to wait to see ‘The Highlight’ back in action? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!