Dan Hooker Reveals Stunning Injuries Overcome in Gutsy Victory Against Jalin Turner on Social Media

1:41:00 PM Tkd kwan 0 Comments

New Zealand’s MMA star Dan Hooker managed to keep an upbeat attitude and laugh off concerns about his injuries after a gutsy split decision victory over Jalin Turner at UFC 290. The 33-year-old fighter, whose bleach-blonde hair was visibly red with blood after the bout, insisted that his injured arm was 'just a scratch'.

After the bout, Hooker skipped the post-fight press conference and was hurriedly transported to a local hospital for assessment. There, he revealed his fractured wrist and broken orbital bone through x-ray images on social media, and even posted a photo smiling with opponent Turner in the hospital.

Hooker later shared on The MMA Hour that he went back and rewatched the fight to find out when his injuries occurred, revealing that it was a front kick in the first round that may have caused a crack in his arm. As the second round started, he noticed his arm wasn’t responding the way it should, and then a few more kicks from his opponent caused it to break. In the third round, he dropped Turner and attempted to finish him with punches, but he felt his right arm go completely dead after throwing one punch.

Despite getting the win, Hooker was visibly hit during clean moments in the bout, including a devastating head kick that he couldn’t block due to his compromised arm. He plans to undergo surgery for both his arm and face but hopes to be back in the Octagon soon, despite the pain of his broken arm.

Already known for being in some of the most exciting fights in recent UFC history, Hooker’s win at UFC 290 marks a two-fight win streak after a rough period where he lost four out of five. The MMA star is determined to get his injuries fixed and hopes to return to the Octagon at 100 percent soon.