Well, seems like the UFC will not see someone die at the UFC 313 event! Just 5 weeks before one of the most anticipated UFC fights, Dan Hooker claimed that the UFC wants to see someone die during the Hooker vs Justin Gaethje showdown on March 8. While Hooker wanted this dream fight more than ever to leave his mark in the UFC, the 35-year-old did not shy away from calling out the UFC for being unfair. “They’re trying to give me every disadvantage they can possibly give me, bro, but that’s fine,” he told Submission Radio on February 20. These accusations even put the UFC CEO Dana White in hot water. But seems like White can finally breathe easy for the UFC 313.

“Everything… He wanted to switch it to three, it’s switched to three. It’s pretty much, he gets… But that’s why I want to fight Justin Gaethje: I want the perks that come with being one of the stars of the division. He’s one of the megastars of the division,” Hooker bluntly questioned the UFC.

But now, in a cruel twist of fate, the highly anticipated war between Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje fell through just weeks before the event. The reason? Hooker suffered a broken hand and announced it through his daughter’s YouTube channel, confessing, “Dad had a fight, or was supposed to have a fight, but I’ve busted my paw.”

This led to a flurry amongst the MMA sphere with questions about Gaethje’s inclusion on the card and whether ‘The Highlight’ would take on another opponent on such short notice. Daniel Cormier had the same questions on his mind when he reached out to Gaethje. And as always, the former BMF champion’s response highlighted why he’s a fan favorite.

In a clip from his YouTube channel, shared on Instagram, Daniel Cormier revealed that he didn’t waste any time once he heard Dan Hooker was out of UFC 313. His response? “My first call in the morning, at six o’clock in the morning, I called JG because I wanna know what’s happening. Is there a preference? There are people that are already stepping up saying I want the fight.”

The former BMF wasn’t about to let Hooker’s withdrawal affect his plans as Cormier further revealed, “I called him this morning and my immediate question was, do you have any plans to not fight this week? And he goes, ‘are you f—— crazy?’ That’s Justin Gaethje. He goes, ‘are you crazy? Of course, I’m fighting.”

Gaethje last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 300 against Max Holloway. The two men went to war for 5 rounds with ‘Blessed’ ending the fight with an iconic flurry that will go down in MMA history. Gaethje lost the BMF title that night, but won ‘Fight of The Night’ honors and has since been eager to get back into the Octagon. As such, the former interim LW champ shared that while the lightweight star isn’t interested in a particular opponent, Cormier has an idea of who he’d like to see. The UFC veteran shared, “But for me, I want you versus Renato Moicano. I think that’s a fun fight.”

Cormier also reasoned that while Moicano had recently lost to Islam Makhachev, Gaethje was also coming off a defeat to Max Holloway. That’s why the pairing, in Cormier’s eyes, makes perfect sense. After all, as the news of ‘The Hangman’s withdrawal hit the internet, multiple fighters have jumped in at the chance to take on the former BMF and interim lightweight champion. Renato Moicano is interested, but so are other intriguing names from the 155 lbs. division!

Three UFC lightweights set their sights on a clash with Gaethje at UFC 313   

Renato Moicano didn’t waste any time. As soon as Dan Hooker’s withdrawal from UFC 313 sent shockwaves through the lightweight division, the Brazilian stepped up. Taking to X, he wrote, ”Two weeks is good. I have enough time for two or three sparring sessions. I will be ready if they call.”

Moicano’s last-minute gamble against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 may not have ended in victory, but it certainly solidified his reputation as a warrior. And as indicated by Daniel Cormier, ‘Money Moicano’ appears to be the perfect opponent for Justin Gaethje.

But the Brazilian isn’t the only one knocking on Gaethje’s door. Rafael Fiziev, who went to war with the former BMF champ at UFC 286, is eager for a rematch. “Let’s run it back,” Fiziev posted on X, just an hour after the news broke. A simple yet powerful callout. Their first meeting was an all-out brawl that left fans craving more. Although Gaethje edged out a decision, Fiziev believes unfinished business remains.

Then there’s Mateusz Gamrot, who has his own reasons for wanting a piece of the action. He wrote on X, “My fight with Hooker was very close and he got lucky with the judges. Time to fix it and prove it”

Now, the ball is in Justin Gaethje’s court. With names like Moicano, Fiziev, and Gamrot all eager to step up, the UFC and Dana White have no shortage of options to keep ‘The Highlight’ on the  UFC 313 card. Will the promotion go with Daniel Cormier’s pick and give Renato Moicano his shot? Or will a rematch with Fiziev, a proven recipe for fireworks, take center stage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!