Dan Hooker is out of his UFC 285 matchup with Jalin Turner after suffering a broken hand
Dan Hooker has pulled out of his UFC 285 matchup against Jalin Turner.
UFC 285 goes down on March 4 with one of the most intriguing fights of the year. Jon Jones is looking to make history by becoming the heavyweight champion against Ciryl Gane. Before the highly-anticipated main event, the preliminary card features several must-see prospects, including Turner, Ian Garry, and Bo Nickal.
With only a month to go before the event, Turner finds himself without an opponent after Hooker was forced to back out with a broken hand. Mike Heck broke the news on Twitter by saying:
“Unfortunate news: Dan Hooker is out of his #UFC285 matchup with Jalin Turner after suffering a broken hand, per sources. Turner is expected to remain on the card, but no opponent at the moment.”
‘The Tarantula’ made his UFC debut in 2018 after earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Turner struggled at first, losing two of his first three fights, with his debut against Vicente Luque at welterweight. Since then, the 27-year-old has emerged as a potential lightweight title contender after winning five consecutive fights, all inside the distance.
The number ten-ranked lightweight was hoping to have his breakout moment by taking out Hooker. ‘The Tarantula’ is searching for another UFC 285 opponent, but it will be difficult to find a short-notice opponent that’s ranked.
Unfortunate news: Dan Hooker is out of his #UFC285 matchup with Jalin Turner after suffering a broken hand, per sources. Turner is expected to remain on the card, but no opponent at the moment.
Who could replace Dan Hooker against Jalin Turner?
Finding a short-notice opponent is never an easy task. Jalin Turner is likely willing to fight anyone to utilize his hard work, but accepting an unranked opponent is risky. With that said, several ranked opponents might be interested in fighting Turner on March 4.
Number thirteen-ranked Renato Moicano has solidified himself as a BMF and became a fan favorite after his last post-fight interview. Moicano defeated Brad Riddell in November, capping off his impressive performance with his unforgettable quote, ‘Moicano wants money.’
Therefore, the Brazilian might be willing to take the short-notice opportunity with a chance to earn some extra money and potentially break into the top 10.
Two other potential opponents for Turner are number eight-ranked Arman Tsarukyan and number seven-ranked Mateusz Gamrot. Both fighters have struggled to find their next opponent, but they might not be willing to fight someone ranked behind them. Regardless of who steps up, ‘The Tarantula’ deserves to stay on the UFC 285 fight card.