Dan Hooker knew what he was signing up for, win or lose, against Dustin Poirier. After traveling from New Zealand to Las Vegas to fight in this past weekend’s UFC on ESPN 12 main event, Hooker knew he would have to spend two weeks in mandatory isolation upon his return.
That doesn’t make the reality of what he’s now enduring any less heartbreaking, though.
After coming out on the losing end of a unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Year” contender with Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC), Hooker (20-9 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is home and has started his quarantine. He’s been able to see his family but only at a distance as no physical contact is allowed, and those rules are being strictly enforced.
Hooker posted a rather heartbreaking picture of him visiting his daughter, but they were separated from each other by a pair of fences (via Instagram):
So close and yet so far! #familyovereverything
Hooker was all smiles in the photo he posted, and that keeps in line with his attitude since the fight. Despite coming up short in his biggest career opportunity, Hooker said that it was just a “bump in the road” and he intends to return better.
The sacrifices made to compete at UFC on ESPN 12 weren’t lost on Hooker’s opponent, either. Poirier offered a supportive message in return (via Twitter):
Sorry you are going through this man. Stay strong brother
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