'The highlight' has been left without an opponent before March 8 after an incredibly unfortunate injury.
Dan Hooker announced that due to an injured hand, he will not compete in one of the best matchups of the year in Las Vegas in just over a week.
Both Hooker and Justin Gaethje are known to bring it every time they get into the octhoek, so that this cancellation hurts more than most.
It is not yet known whether the fight for a later date will be planned again or whether the UFC can fight a new fight with different top light weights that all their hands go on the face.
Here are five potential options with which the UFC could be to keep one of the most exciting hunters in the history of sport on the map.
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty images
1. Ilia Topuria
Undoubtedly, the option that the largest social media storm would create would be the former UFC -Fedweight champion, Ilia Topuria.
Less than a week ago it was announced that Topuria had left the title of 145 pounds with 'El Matador' who went up a weight class.
The undefeated star could apparently go directly into a title fight with Islam Makhachev, but this would be the perfect opportunity to prove itself first in the lightweight division.
2. Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier is currently focusing on the last evening of his 40-Fight career that he expects to take place in July or August, with New Orleans being his ideal location.
However, it would be a shame to look 'the diamond' without the conclusion of his trilogy of fighting with Justin Gaethje.
They are currently bound on 1-1 After Gaethje has equated the score of their incredible war 2018 by putting Poirier in the first round on UFC 291 to win the BMF title.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
3. Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira returned to the win column at UFC 309 with an impressive victory over Michael Chandler, but even though he is at the top of the lightweight division, he probably needs another big result before he is back in the title photo.
'Do Bronx' moisture already and defeated Gaethje on UFC 274 where he submitted it in the first round, but in terms of adding some more star power to a card that Alex Pereira has at the top, you can't get much better than the Former lightweight champion.
4. Rafael Fiziev
Rafael Fiziev was the first lightweight that had put his name in the mix as a potential opponent for Gaethje in the short term.
Fiziev has history with 'the highlight' by being defeated at UFC 286 through majority decision and he actively calls for all lightweight contenders to face him, so that he can make his long -awaited return after a devastating injury in 2023.
5. Mateusz Gamrot
Mateusz Gamrot, the last man who is confronted with Rafael Fiziev, also put his name in the mix by referring to his last fight against Dan Hooker, who came to a split decision.
If the #8-ranking competitor in the division, Gamrot would have a lot to win from this matchup, even if it is not the kind of new fighting announcement that social media would become a bomb.
Renato Moicano has also called Gaethje who comes from a loss, but the position of Gamrot in the ranking can be eligible.
Justin Gaethje is not a problem
The easy part of compiling a new fight for the UFC is that one of the parties they are dealing with is Justin Gaethje.
Unless the matchmakers come to him with a new chance for which he must be removed from the card, you know that 'the highlight' is ready to go on March 8.
Gaethje has also produced so many incredible competitions during his 13-Fight Run with the promotion that you know, regardless of the opponent, you have something special.
The UFC has a good track record for removing a rabbit in these scenarios, but now we are waiting for something new about what the next is for the former interim light weight and BMF champion.
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