There is no shortage of options for Justin Gaethje now that Dan Hooker has confirmed his withdrawal from UFC 313.
‘The Hangman’ revealed an injured hand has forced him from UFC 313, and Gaethje awaits a replacement on two weeks’ notice.
One potential option is Renato ‘Money’ Moicano, who threw his hat in the ring on X on February 25. Despite Moicano saying ‘two weeks is good,’ another UFC lightweight has reportedly been camped in the United States for this opportunity.
Another matter is whether the UFC – or Gaethje – wants this replacement opponent.
Mateusz Gamrot ‘camped’ in America for short-notice opportunities
Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot has already called his shot in a message on X. The No.8-ranked lightweight last fought Hooker at UFC 305, losing a tight split decision. ‘Gamer’ isn’t letting the loss discourage him from fighting Gaethje at UFC 313.
“My fight with Hooker was very close and he got lucky with the judges,” Gamrot wrote on X. “Time to fix it and prove it!!
“Hooker out, I’m ready to go [Justin Gaethje],” He added in another message. “Two weeks no matter!!”
According to Polsat Sport’s Pawel Wyrobek, Gamrot has been training in the United States, waiting for an opportunity like this one to arise.
“Mateusz Gamrot flew to the States without a planned fight, but with the intention of ‘camping’ for a possible replacement [opportunity],” Wyrobek reported on X. “11 days before UFC 313 Hooker is out of the fight with Gaethje. A very difficult fight, but the risk is definitely worth taking.”
Gamrot’s strategy could play off in a big way with a fight against Gaethje.
How UFC 313 looks with Justin Gaethje on the ropes
Regardless of all the callouts, there’s every chance Gaethje doesn’t fight. The American scrapper is coming off one of the most grueling knockouts of all time against Max Holloway and may not want to risk his comeback fight against a short-notice opponent.
The card could be down to ten fights with Gaethje in a precarious spot on UFC 313.
- Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
- Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
- King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy
- Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
- Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan
- Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos
- Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal
- Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Joshua Van