Dan Hooker Causes Concern as UFC Fans Watch Him Push Through Training With Hand Injury

“Dan! He’s a psychopath! His whole s–t is f–ed up, bro!” That’s how Israel Adesanya described Dan Hooker’s war against Jalin Turner at during his 2023 appearance on the Flagrant podcast. ‘The Last Stylebender’ has always portrayed his City Kickboxing teammate as an all-out, over-the-top beast, both in training and in the cage. And honestly, that hasn’t changed. ‘The Hangman’s relentless will and drive to fight again is admirable, but it’s also starting to raise a few concerns.

Hooker and his hand injury have formed one hell of a bond—and not the good kind. It all started during his absolute three-round war with Jalin Turner at UFC 290, where the Kiwi unleashed a wild 172 total strikes to earn a gritty split-decision win. As chaotic as that fight was, it left him with a broken bone in his right hand, which he later revealed on X. Still, Hooker bounced back and returned to face Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305, winning the fight via decision. A much-anticipated showdown with Justin Gaethje was then booked for UFC 313 but unfortunately fell through after he required surgery on his left hand.

Gaethje ended up facing a familiar foe, Rafael Fiziev, at UFC 313 and secured a unanimous decision win. But with that, questions started swirling around Dan Hooker’s future. The Kiwi later revealed he was the backup for Dustin Poirier’s UFC 318 clash against Max Holloway. However, in an interview with Sky Sports, Hooker shared some tough news: “Unfortunately, I need a second surgery on my hand… That would put me nine weeks before this fight. So it would take kind of a perfect storm for me to be able to be ready. So it doesn’t look like that is gonna happen.”

However, that hasn’t seemed to slow down the Kiwi slugger’s fighting spirit. In a recently posted video on his Instagram, Dan Hooker was seen going full throttle on the pads—firing off powerful kicks and even landing a few solid punches with his injured hand. Home of Fight shared the clip with the caption: “Dan Hooker doesn’t let a broken hand stop him from improving. Expect more kicks from Dan in his comeback fight.”

That video is a clear sign that Hooker is itching to make a comeback. But in the training video, while his kicks look sharp and relentless, he’s barely using his hands, especially that surgically repaired one. It’s a strong indication that he’s still not fully recovered from the multiple procedures he’s had to endure. And in a sport as brutal and unforgiving as MMA, that’s a legitimate concern. So, the fans are picking up on it too, and many are beginning to voice their worries. Let’s take a look at what they’re saying.

Fans concerned as Dan Hooker trains with hand injury

One fan bluntly asked, “Why is bro always injured?” That’s absolutely a nod to Hooker’s intense training style that might be fueling his injury streak. Another fired-up supporter added, “Please don’t break the f—ing hand! I wanna see that Gaethje fight happen!!!!” The scrapped UFC 313 matchup had war written all over it. If it ever gets rebooked, Hooker will need to be 100% ready, especially with his hands. 

However, another fan expressed concern that Hooker might be risking even more damage, commenting, “Now he will break his leg.” That was quickly followed by another saying, “Bro, you can tell he just tore both his quads ‘cause that’s how I be kicking—and I ain’t an elite striker like Dan.” While very few can match ‘The Hangman’ in striking, he did look a bit off, possibly from hastened recovery or just shaking off the rust after a long layoff.

The internet never disappoints when it comes to banter, even in the most serious moments—it’s what gives it character. While most fans urged the Kiwi to take it easy, one user dropped a cheeky comment: “Wonder if he’s good at hook kicks by any chance.” Gotta admit, solid wordplay! Naming ‘Hook kick’ after ‘The Hangman’ surname. Amid the jokes, there was also well-deserved appreciation: “Dan has always been a high-level athlete.” No lies there, his fight with Dustin Poirier always serves as a testament. 

Well, with that being said, what do you think? Has Dan Hooker taken his first real steps toward recovery, or is he pushing things a bit too early and needs to dial it back? The fight game waits for no one, but healing right is just as important as fighting hard. Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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