Kiwi UFC star Dan Hooker has left the world wondering about his future, after suffering a stunning knockout loss to American Michael Chandler at UFC 257.
Just 2m 30s into the opening round, the promotion's sixth-ranked lightweight copped a left hook to the jaw that sent him reeling backwards to the mat. As he covered up desperately, Chandler rained punchess from above, until the referee moved in to stop the contest.
In his first UFC outing, Chandler - a former Bellator world champion - certainly delivered on the pre-fight hype and proceeded to call out some of the sport's biggest names, namely 'retired' titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov, and enigmatic Irishman Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, due to contest the card's main fight moments later.
But while the spotlight fell on his rejoicing opponent, Hooker, 30, exited the Octagon, leaving his gloves at the centre of the ring - a sign he may have retired and may not need them again.
Whether that's a heat-of-the-moment gesture or a considered decision remains to be seen.
The result was Hooker's sixth UFC loss and second consecutive, after he fell to Poirier by decision in June 2020 at Las Vegas.
The defeat also seems to end his hopes of challenging for the crown in a division regarded as the promotion's most competitive.
The City Kickboxing fighter has carved a reputation as a durable scrapper, often emerging with horrific battle scars to show for his never-back-down toughness. This defeat happened so quickly, the physical recovery won't take so long, but perhaps there's no return from the mental toll this time.
Hooker has been one of New Zealand's most decorated mixed martial arts exponents - perhaps second only to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya - but has already begun to look beyond a fight career, opening his own Auckland-based gym, Combat Academy.
