Dan Hooker (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

In a last-ditch effort to save his upcoming fight at UFC 266, Dan Hooker has turned to Twitter and the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand.

The lightweight contender is scheduled to fight Nasrat Haqparast at the September 25th event. But, due to the current, COVID-19 situation in Hooker’s native New Zealand, it’s not clear if the fighter will get the necessary permissions to leave the country.

UFC 266 is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Recently, Hooker reported on Twiter that he has sent his documentation to the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand, but that he has yet to hear anything back.

@USAmbNZ Hi Kevin, apologies for messaging on here but it’s a last resort.

My visa is with the US embassy here in NZ as I fight next week in Las Vegas on #UFC266

Update today is it won’t be approved until next week due to lock down which will cancel my fight. Please help. 🙏

The embassy has my passport and all the completed documentation, all I need is it to be processed and returned.

This is an absolute last resort. 🙏🤞

Hey team, I have called this number every day for the last two weeks. ✌️

Just tried again after your suggestion and they told me to send an email which I have also already done. 🙏

The embassy has my passport and all the completed documentation, all I need is it to be processed and returned.

This is an absolute last resort. 🙏🤞

— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) September 16, 2021

Hey team, I have called this number every day for the last two weeks. ✌️

Just tried again after your suggestion and they told me to send an email which I have also already done. 🙏 https://t.co/4OtKjZXP9E

— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) September 17, 2021

The 31-year-old Hooker (20-10) is coming off a stoppage loss to Michael Chandler in January, and is 3-2 in his last 5 fights.

The 26-year-old Haqparast (13-3), meanwhile, recorded a decision win over Rafa García in March and is 4-1 in his last 5 fights.