UFC fighter Dan Hooker had to bow out of the UFC ESPN 52 co-main event recently due to a severe injury. The event which takes place in Austin, Texas, was highly anticipated and fans were eagerly looking forward to Hooker’s performance. Known as “The Hangman,” Hooker suffered an injury during a sparring session. He was gearing up for a lightweight showdown against Bobby Green. However, due to the unfortunate incident, Jalin Turner had to step in and face Green instead.
The lid on the extent of the fighter’s injuries was lifted recently when Hooker revealed through an Instagram post that he had undergone surgery. “Surgery done and dusted this morning,” Hooker announced to his fans. He went on to indicate that it was not his first time going through such an experience and he did not believe it would be his last. The fighter seemed to be in high spirits despite the setback, stating that injuries are part and parcel of his game, and he is more than ready to face any challenges that come his way.
The injury though, is the latest in a series of setbacks the fighter has had to confront in recent months. For instance, during his last outing at UFC 290, he suffered a broken arm. He managed to secure a victory over Jalin Turner, but the injury never fully recovered, according to the City Kickboxing representative.
Describing the latest injury, Hooker admitted that he let his passion and excitement get the better of him. He explained that he was very eager to return to the octagon and put on a memorable show for his fans. “I broke my arm sparring this week in the same place as last time. Surgeon tells me the bone had never fused properly. Have surgery this week to inject bone marrow into my arm and ensure full strength.” he revealed
Despite all these setbacks, Hooker seems determined to return stronger and better. He confessed that every setback presents an opportunity to learn and grow. His Instagram post seemed to be a wake-up call to himself – a reminder to take better care of his health and make a full recovery before diving back into action. Despite losing four of five appearances between June 2020 to March 2022, Hooker was able to bounce back and has won back-to-back fights under the UFC banner.