UFC Event 313: Top Four Potential Alternatives for Dan Hooker versus Justin Gaethje
Dan Hooker's injury has left Justin Gaethje without an opponent for UFC 313 on March 8, threatening to diminish the card's value. Gaethje has shown his eagerness to fight, and the UFC is actively searching for a replacement within eleven days. Sportsnet's Aaron Bronsteter, suggesting a rematch with Rafael Fiziev, is one of multiple possibilities, as shown in his poll.
Fiziev and Gaethje previously battled in a thrilling encounter in March 2023, with Gaethje securing a majority decision victory. Currently ranked 11th, Fiziev is an intriguing choice, even though the major disparity between the fighters' rankings might make the fight less appealing to Gaethje.
Additionally, Bronsteter's poll included Mateusz Gamrot, Renato Moicano, and Beneil Dariush. Dariush could be a contender due to his role as the replacement fighter at UFC 311, where he was originally set to take on Moicano. The UFC planned to pay Dariush for making weight, but a win bonus seemed uncertain.
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Ranked 9th, Dariush provides an intriguing prospect, but his recent career struggles make him an underwhelming alternative. Gamrot, ranked 8th, is another contender, but his recent loss to Hooker may hinder his appeal. Moicano is listed as an option as well, but he lost to Islam Makhachev in a rather one-sided encounter, raising doubts about his form and motivation.
This brings us to Max Holloway, Gaethje's opponent in a memorable KO victory at UFC 300 in April 2024. By proposing a rematch, the UFC can capitalize on the allure of an instant revenge opportunity and the notion of Holloway transitioning to lightweight, potentially leading to a surprise hit for the promotion.
The identity of Gaethje's opponent remains to be seen, with updates likely to come in the following 48 hours. Below is a preliminary list of the UFC 313 card:
- (c) Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev - UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
- Justin Gaethje vs. ???
- Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo - Women’s Strawweight
- King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy - Lightweight
- Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes - Lightweight
- Bruno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan - Middleweight
- Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos - Middleweight
- Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal - Welterweight
- Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall - Featherweight
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev - Heavyweight
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Joshua Van - Flyweight
Keep an eye on UFC 313 and other upcoming promotion events.
Max Holloway, who faced Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, could potentially serve as Gaethje's opponent at UFC 313 on March 8, following Dan Hooker's injury. This rematch would provide an instant revenue opportunity, given the excitement surrounding a potential revenge scenario and Holloway's transition to lightweight.
Justin Gaethje, currently without an opponent for UFC 313, has shown his eagerness to fight within the given eleven days. The UFC is actively seeking a replacement, and a rematch with Rafael Fiziev is one of the possibilities being considered.
If a rematch with Fiziev doesn't materialize, Mateusz Gamrot could be a contender for Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. However, Gamrot's recent loss to Dan Hooker may affect his appeal as an opponent.
Beneil Dariush, ranked 9th, emerged as another potential replacement for Justin Gaethje at UFC 313. He proved his resilience by serving as the replacement fighter at UFC 311, despite uncertainty about a win bonus.
Justin Gaethje's opponent for UFC 313 remains a mystery, with updates expected to roll in over the ensuing 48 hours. In the interim, fans can keep an eye on the preliminary UFC 313 card, which includes exciting match-ups like Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the main event, UFC 313 promises a stacked card filled with thrilling fights and competitive match-ups.
