UFC fighter Dan Hooker has boldly stated that he expects to be “going straight onto a stretcher” following his upcoming bout, regardless of the outcome. The Auckland native is aiming for his fourth consecutive win, which would boost his chances of contending for the lightweight title.
With a record of 24 wins and 12 losses, Hooker is renowned for his resilience and will need every ounce of it when he faces Justin Gaethje next month. Gaethje, a former holder of the BMF title and one of the top strikers in the division, presents a significant challenge in what is anticipated to be a brutal five-round fight.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Hooker expressed his stark clarity about the match, stating, “I know full well… that the fight is gonna end no matter whether his arm gets raised, my arm gets raised, and then I’m going straight on to a stretcher… If someone’s not ready to go to the lengths that I’m willing to go to, then they’re gonna have a hard night.”
Currently ranked sixth in the UFC lightweight division, Hooker will be facing Gaethje, who is ranked two spots higher and has not competed since suffering a knockout loss to Max Holloway. This high-stakes matchup will co-headline UFC 313 on March 9 (AEDT), featuring a headline bout between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.