Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC-YA!
Former Bellator MMA lightweight champion Michael Chandler recently signed an exclusive contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and has set sail for “Fight Island” to play back-up for the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje title fight.
But if the services of “Iron” are not needed for the UFC 254 pay-per-view (PPV) main event on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi, then matchmakers will have to turn their attention to the rest of the Top 10 (see it here) for Chandler’s upcoming debut.
Paging Dan Hooker …
“If Sean Shelby calls me right now and he says Michael Chandler, UFC two hundred and whatever, we can put that together, we can make that happen, of course,” Hooker told Submission Radio. “The UFC is putting a lot of stock in this kid. So I would love to be the guy who welcomes him to the UFC, knees his chin off, and sends him back to the B-Leagues.”
I’m sure he means “B” as in “Bellator” … right?
The No. 4-ranked Hooker (20-9) is coming off a “Fight of the Night” performance to top contender Dustin Poirier at UFC on ESPN 12 last June. Prior to his “Diamond” defeat, the 30 year-old “Hangman” captured seven of eight with five nasty finishes.
Chandler (21-5) is fresh off his knockout win over former lightweight champion Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 just last month. “Iron” has 16 finishes in 21 wins and is widely-considered one of the most exciting fighters to have never competed in UFC.
Expect that to change before year’s end.