Dan Hooker, despite enduring a broken arm, exhibited tremendous resilience during his bout against Jalin Turner at UFC 290. However, it wasn’t until a post-fight review that he discovered when exactly the injury had occurred.
Reflecting on the fight during an interview on The MMA Hour, Hooker revealed that he observed a kick from Turner in the opening round that likely caused a fracture in his wrist. Although he only became fully aware of the severity of his injury a few minutes later, the tenacious 33-year-old fighter never entertained the idea of giving up.
Upon reviewing the footage, Hooker stated, “I believe it was a front kick in the first round that may have caused a small crack. As the second round began, I noticed my arm wasn’t responding properly, and then during the second round, he landed a few more kicks which I believe broke it.”
He continued, “I definitely felt it in the second round. Something was amiss. I couldn’t feel my right hand. However, it wasn’t until the third round, when I dropped him and attempted to finish the fight, that I threw a right punch and felt my arm completely dislocate. My entire right arm went numb. Winning in this manner was not what I had envisioned. I resorted to controlling him from the top position using my right elbow and landed punches with my left hand.”
One of the most significant moments in the fight occurred when Turner’s head kick struck Hooker’s face early in the second round. Despite the impact, Hooker weathered the subsequent assault and managed to turn the tide by hurting Turner moments later. This led to a close submission attempt just before the round ended. The sequence, coupled with Hooker’s dominance in the third round, solidified his belief that he had done enough to secure victory, even though he had fought for nearly 10 minutes with only one fully functional arm.
“In the second round, he landed a head kick, and although I intended to block it, my arm didn’t comply,” Hooker recounted. “However, I managed to hurt him at the end of that round and almost finished him with a rear-naked choke. So, that was a fight-ending sequence in the second round. In the third round, I continued to inflict damage while maintaining control on the ground. It’s difficult to dispute that. I was quite confident that I had achieved my goal.”
Despite the broken arm, Hooker came closest to ending the fight with his second-round submission attempt. Nonetheless, he remained undeterred by his inability to secure a finish.
“That submission attempt was really close,” Hooker admitted. “But mentally, you can’t dwell on it as if it was your only chance. I didn’t feel like that was my sole opportunity. We had another five minutes, so I knew I could still finish him.”
Following his victory at UFC 290, Hooker now boasts a two-fight win streak. However, he is not ready to focus on future matchups just yet.
On Wednesday, Hooker is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair his broken arm. Additionally, he will likely require another procedure to address damage to his face. Nevertheless, Hooker remains confident in his ability to recover swiftly, as he has done in the past.
“The broken arm is quite painful. But what can you do?” Hooker acknowledged. “We’ll get it fixed and be back to 100 percent in no time.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about injury
When did Dan Hooker break his arm during the fight?
Dan Hooker likely fractured his wrist when he received a front kick from Jalin Turner in the first round of the fight.
Did Dan Hooker consider quitting the fight after his arm was injured?
No, despite realizing something was wrong with his arm in the second round, Dan Hooker never contemplated finding a way out of the fight and continued to compete.
How did Dan Hooker continue fighting with a broken arm?
Although his right arm was not fully functional, Dan Hooker adapted his strategy, using his left hand for punching and controlling his opponent on the ground with his right elbow.
What was the most significant moment in the fight?
One of the most significant moments occurred when Turner’s head kick struck Hooker’s face in the early part of the second round, but Hooker managed to recover and turned the tables on Turner.
Will Dan Hooker need surgery for his injuries?
Yes, Dan Hooker will undergo surgery to repair his broken arm. Additionally, he may require another surgery to address damage to his face sustained during the fight.
How confident was Dan Hooker in his victory?
Based on his performance in the second and third rounds, Dan Hooker was confident that he had done enough to secure the victory, despite fighting with a broken arm for the majority of the bout.
More about injury
- Dan Hooker overcomes broken arm to secure victory at UFC 290
- Interview with Dan Hooker on The MMA Hour
- Highlights of Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner fight at UFC 290
- UFC 290 event recap and results
- Dan Hooker’s official UFC profile
4 comments
the heart and determination shown by dan hooker is truly inspiring. he fought through pain and finished strong. can’t wait to see what he does next once he’s fully healed. sending him positive vibes for a successful surgery and quick recovery!
wow dan hooker is one tough dude! he fought with a broken arm and still won, that’s crazy! respect to him for not givin up. surgery’s gonna fix him up real good, he’ll be back in no time!
damnnnn, dan hooker is a warrior! he took a beatin’ and still managed to dominate the fight. props to him for pushin through with a busted arm. can’t wait to see him back in action after his surgeries. #danthebeast
dan hooker’s ground control was on point even with a brokn arm. he adapted his game plan and made it work. that submission attempt in the 2nd round was so close, he’s a beast! wishing him a speedy recovery!