Kiwi UFC fighter Dan Hooker has been cleared to travel to Las Vegas for his upcoming bout against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266.
Hooker, 31, was left in limbo, after being told the US Embassy was unable to process the visa request in time to make his fight on Sunday (NZ time).
After appealing to US ambassador Kevin Covert on social media, Hooker has secured the all-important documentation, but the late departure means he must cut weight on the flight, before Friday's official weigh-in.
"I'll have three training sessions at home over the next three days, then I fly out on Thursday," he tells Newshub. "I'm going to need to start shifting weight in the next couple days and I'll be cutting on the plane.
"We arrive in Las Vegas at 7:30pm Thursday [local time], we should be all checked in to the hotel by 10 and then at 9 the next morning, I have to weigh in."
The Kiwi fighter isn't using the tumultuous build-up as an excuse and won't have the same luxuries as most UFC fighters, en route to Las Vegas.
The build-up to the fight has also seen Hooker unable to train properly as a result of Auckland's move to COVID-19 Alert Level 4, with New Zealand's restrictions even seeing him contemplate relocating his family to the US.
"I just want to focus on the positives," he says. "I want to fight so badly and everything else won't really matter, once I'm in the Octagon.
"I can't let my mind be clouded by doubts or feel sorry for myself, I just have to face this as a challenge and overcome it.
"There will be no first-class seat for the Hangman - I only fly economy."
Hooker's quest to secure a visa didn't come without drama, he says, beating the deadline with only seconds to spare.
"[I] was heading to my appointment at midday and I got a call saying my photo was out of date, and I needed a new one or I wouldn't get accepted," Hooker adds.
"My wife rang literally every pharmacy in the city and I don't want to say which one, because I don't want them to get in trouble, but finally one said 'yes' and we got the photo done.
"I sprinted up to the embassy and made it there at 11:59, submitted everything they wanted and after an hour of waiting, they came back outside with my passport and my travel visa, and we are good to go."
Join Newshub for live updates of UFC 266 from 3pm Sunday.
