Kiwi UFC lightweight title contender Dan Hooker admits New Zealand's strict COVID-19 lockdown rules may force him to ship his family overseas to keep his mixed martial arts career alive.
The No.8-ranked Aucklander returns to the cage at UFC 266 in Las Vegas on September 26, hoping to halt a two-fight skid against unranked German Nasrat Haqparast.
His rival is 5-1 in his last six fights and represents an almost must-win bout for the 31-year-old, who was stopped for the first time in his career by Michael Chandler last time out in January.
But his lightweight title aspirations are the least of Hooker's worries, as he seriously considers packing up and shipping out, as New Zealand's borders remain closed to the rest of the world.
"As an athlete who makes his living from fighting all over the world, not being able to come and go from New Zealand is a huge roadblock," he tells Newshub.
"I don't want to leave, but New Zealand has some serious issues with the MIQ voucher system, and having to schedule my fights around when I can or cannot get a voucher just isn't viable.
"MIQ is going to be around for 2-3 years, that's the reality. One hundred percent, [moving overseas] is the best option for my career.
"I'm one of the lucky ones. I can afford to pick up my family and move overseas, rent a house, train and fight - there are so many fighters, so many individual sportspeople that aren't as fortunate.
"There is a generation of New Zealand athletes, whose dreams are being shelved, because they can't travel with any certainty of being able to come home.
"This has to change, the Government has to find a solution - it's a shambles."
Hooker does have some good news - mentor and coach Eugene Bareman will travel with him to Las Vegas.
The pair will link with teammate and UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski, who defends his title against Brian Ortega on the same card.
Hooker has lacked full-contact training opportunities, since his fight camp bubble was shut down twice by police for breaking COVID-19 lockdown protocols.
"I'm looking forward to getting back at it, hitting the mat, hit the pads and going full steam in the week before the fight.
"It's important to have Eugene there, to have that support, but Frank [Hickman], Joe Lopez and Alex [Volkanovski] are all there too, so it's like a mini City Kickboxing camp."
The lightweight division is wide open, after the shock retirement of undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov and the form slump of former champion Conor McGregor, who hasn't won a lightweight bout in nearly five years.
Champion Charles Oliveira is expected to defend against Dustin Poirier early next year, while top contenders Justin Gaetche and Chandler do battle at UFC 268 in November.
With several other contenders mixing wins with losses, the 'Hangman' could quickly find himself back in the title hunt, if he can put together a couple of victories.
"I know there is no lightweight in the world I can't beat - I know that. There have been glimmers, tiny glimmers of that in the past, I just need to put it all together, and I feel I am now in my fighting prime and now is my time."
If Hooker can get his hand raised against Haqparast, his journey to the top becomes so much clearer.
Join us on September 26 for live updates of UFC 266/Hooker v Haqparast
