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UFC Top Contender Shared Gruesome Hand Injury Update

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Mar 11, 2025 9:34 PM ET

Another brutal setback in the lightweight division, another main event shuffle. The fight game never stops, and neither do its unpredictable injuries. A highly anticipated March showdown was just snatched away, forcing a major change to UFC 313’s co-main event.

One warrior was set to step into the Octagon, fresh off a war-torn winning streak, ready to prove his spot among the lightweight elite. But fate—and a misplaced punch—had other plans.

Dan Hooker, the ever-tough New Zealander, suffered a fractured hand during a sparring session, officially pulling him from his bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025. The injury happened in training when Hooker landed a shot to his partner’s head, leading to a CT scan confirming the break. It’s another frustrating roadblock for “The Hangman,” who was finally stringing together momentum after three straight victories, his latest being a gritty war against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.

With Hooker out, Rafael Fiziev stepped in to face Gaethje in the co-main event, setting up another striking spectacle. And Gaethje? He came back with a bang, delivering the kind of chaos only “The Highlight” knows how to bring.

Meanwhile, Hooker underwent surgery and is in recovery mode, sharing post-op updates with his fans. A recent video posted by MMA Orbit reveals just how nasty the injury is—let’s just say, it’s not for the squeamish. No official return date has been set, but the lightweight division just got a little more unpredictable.

Here’s wishing Dan Hooker a speedy and healthy recovery —the Octagon won’t be the same without him. I bet Dana White wishes him a swift recovery, too, considering how much chaos this shake-up has caused and in order to get him back into the lightweight mix.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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