Justin Gaethje received’t be combating Dan Hooker at UFC 313, however he has no scarcity of opponents keen to step as much as problem him.
A bevy of high-profile lightweights have volunteered their providers to switch Hooker after “The Hangman” introduced Tuesday that a hand injury has forced him out of his March 8 struggle with Gaethje.
Rafael Fiziev was first to throw his hat within the ring, reacting to the unlucky information a bit of over an hour after it broke.
“Let’s run it again,” Fiziev wrote on Twitter.
Fiziev misplaced a majority determination to Gaethje at UFC 286, a bout that received Battle of the Evening honors. “Ataman” has been itching for a return to motion since injuring his knee within the second spherical of a bout towards Mateusz Gamrot. The setback has saved Fiziev on the shelf since September 2023, however a win over Gaethje would put him within the thick of the light-weight title race.
Talking of Gamrot, he additionally took to Twitter to precise his willingness to struggle Gaethje. In his most up-to-date outing at UFC 305 this previous August, Gamrot misplaced a break up determination to Hooker and he’s wanting to get again within the win column.
“My struggle with Hooker was very shut and he obtained fortunate with the judges,” Gamrot wrote in a tweet tagging Gaethje’s account. “Time to repair it and show it.”
To nobody’s shock, the at all times sport Renato Moicano additionally seems to be volunteering for the short-notice alternative. He wrote on Twitter, “Two weeks is nice. I’ve sufficient time for 2 or three sparring classes. I can be prepared in the event that they name.”
A tweet from the account of his podcast Present Me the Cash additionally prompt his curiosity.
2 weeks is nice! I’ve sufficient time for two or 3 sparring classes! I can be prepared in the event that they name! #ufc
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) February 25, 2025
“Cash” Moicano has developed a status for combating anytime, wherever, with the latest instance being his last-second title struggle towards light-weight champion Islam Makhachev this previous January. UFC 311 was presupposed to be headlined by Makhachev defending his title towards Arman Tsarukyan, however when a again harm compelled Tsarukyan off the cardboard only a day earlier than struggle evening, Moicano was pulled from a struggle with Beneil Dariush to problem Makhachev as a substitute.
Although Moicano was submitted within the first spherical and noticed a four-fight win streak snapped, his willingness to tackle the No. 1 Pound-for-Pound fighter on the planet meant he misplaced little when it comes to recognition.
One fighter who desires no a part of Gaethje proper now’s retired UFC light-weight Paul Felder. The cageside commentator’s identify was volunteered by welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, however “The Irish Dragon” made it clear he’s pleased staying on the sidelines.
“You attempting to get me damage?” Felder wrote in reply to Muhammad.
The UFC has not issued any official phrase on the standing Gaethje vs. Hooker, so it’s potential the matchup may very well be rescheduled somewhat than Gaethje combating a short-notice opponent subsequent Saturday.
UFC 313 takes place at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas on March 8. In the principle occasion, Alex Pereira defends his gentle heavyweight title towards Magomed Ankalaev.
