After UFC Austin Exit, Dan Hooker Undergoes Surgery for Broken Arm

Dan Hooker recently went under the knife for the injury that led to his withdrawal from the UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event.

“The Hangman” broke his arm during sparring shortly ahead of his proposed lightweight showdown against Bobby Green. As a result, Jalin Turner stepped in to face Green on Saturday at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

“Surgery done and dusted this morning,” Hooker wrote Monday on Instagram. “Not my first and definitely won’t be my last time under the knife… Can see how this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m built for this game. Just a scratch baby, can’t wait to scrap again.”

Hooker has dealt with a series of setbacks in recent months. That includes his last outing at UFC 290, where he suffered a broken arm in a victory over Jalin Turner. According to the City Kickboxing representative, that injury never fully healed.

“My hunger to compete got the best of me. I was too eager to fight under the lights again and put on a show that would be remembered,” Hooker wrote recently in a separate Instagram post. “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.

“Wake up call to take better care of myself and recover properly before getting back to action. Every set back in this game is an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Hooker has won back-to-back fights under the UFC banner after losing four of five appearances from June 2020 to March 2022.

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