While he won't move up the rankings, the loss is not a major setback for Hooker by any means. Still ranked inside the top 10 of the deepest division in the UFC, there remain plenty of high-profile match ups on the horizon for him.
It puts an end to a wild couple of months for Hooker, who spent the majority of his fight camp training alone in his garage ahead of his September bout against Nasrat Haqparast - which was further interrupted by visa issues that saw him arrive in Las Vegas less than 24 hours before he was due to weigh in.
After winning that fight, he was offered Makhachev on short notice as the Russian's original opponent was forced out with injury. Accepting the bout meant he would have to forgo his MIQ spot for late September in order to remain Stateside and train without restrictions.
Hooker will now head back to Las Vegas where he will continue to base himself for the time being due to New Zealand's MIQ system, with the UFC expected to be flying his wife and daughter out to meet him there.
He won't be the only New Zealand fighter whose family will be relocating to the US for the immediate future, with fellow UFC stars Brad Riddell and Kai Kara-France set for bouts in December in the US and both unable to secure MIQ vouchers to return home afterwards.