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Daniel Cormier: Hooker-Chandler Winner Should Call Out McGregor

Former Bellator Champion Michael Chandler is finally set to make his UFC debut. His opponent; City Kickboxing’s Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker. The fight is a stroke of expert matchmaking on the UFC’s part. Dan Hooker is one of the staunchest Lightweights in the UFC’s roster, having picked up wins over Paul Felder and Al Iaquinta. However, most recently ‘The Hangman’ came up short against Dustin Poirier in a fight of the year contender. Alternatively, Michael Chandler has been long regarded as one of the best 155ers outside of the UFC. He holds wins over former UFC fighters such as Eddie Alvarez and Akihiro Gono. However Gono only amassed a 1-1 record for the company, and while Eddie Alvarez did become Lightweight Champion, he was comprehensively defeated by both McGregor and Poirier.

As it happens the two men to have last defeated Alvarez in the UFC, are headlining UFC 257. The same PPV card that Hooker and Chandler are co-headlining. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier believes that the winner of their bout should capitalize on the exposure brought by a Conor McGregor PPV event. Just as Khabib Nurmagomedov propelled his name into the title picture, after clinically dismantling Michael Johnson at UFC 205. On the DC and Helwani show, Cormier recounted the event:

“Khabib’s on the prelims: ‘I want to fight with your chicken.’ All of a sudden they start to mention Khabib and Conor in the same breath.” “Khabib isn’t the champ yet; he’s a young guy on his way up, and then it just builds” (H/T MMA Junkie)

“For Chandler to be in the co-main event, it puts him in a perfect spot. And Dan Hooker, too,” remarked Cormier. “If I’m Dan Hooker and I win, I’m immediately saying something about McGregor. Whoever wins at 155 pounds on that fight card, you say something about McGregor. Because guess what? McGregor doesn’t have the ability to not respond. He will say something back. He’ll say something and elevate you. There’s a level of stardom that comes with fighting on (the same card as) and with this dude that I’ve never seen.”

McGregor’s opponent, Dustin Poirier, has stated that he believes Dan Hooker will have an edge over the former Bellator fighter.

Who do you think will win the opportunity to call out the Notorious one?

Dustin Poirier Gives Prediction For Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler

Dustin Poirier is giving the edge to Dan Hooker over Michael Chandler at UFC 257. Chandler makes his long-awaited UFC debut when he takes on Dan Hooker in the co-main event of the pay-per-view on January 23 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Poirier is notably headlining the card against Conor McGregor and is naturally an […]

Dustin Poirier is giving the edge to Dan Hooker over Michael Chandler at UFC 257.

Chandler makes his long-awaited UFC debut when he takes on Dan Hooker in the co-main event of the pay-per-view on January 23 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Poirier is notably headlining the card against Conor McGregor and is naturally an interested observer as he could end up facing one of Chandler or Hooker in the future.

As for how he sees the fight going, “The Diamond” believes Chandler is more than capable of getting the decision if he is able to implement his wrestling. However, having fought Hooker to a five-round war last summer, Poirier is giving New Zealander the edge.

“I think Hooker beats him on the feet,” Poirier said in a recent podcast appearance (via BJ Penn). “I think the length—Chandler’s not a tall guy—Hooker’s really long and a better boxer than I thought he was. [He has] good timing, it’s tough to get his rhythm. Hooker’s a tough fight for anybody, I think. It’ll be [about] if Chandler can get the takedowns, and if he can, can he keep down?

“If he starts getting takedowns and getting dominant position, he might be able to get a decision,” Poirier added. “I’m not saying he can’t finish Hooker. He can finish him, but I would lean toward Hooker on that one, man. I don’t know the odds, but I would give Hooker a slight edge.

“And it’s Chandler’s first fight in the UFC,” Poirier concluded. “I’m sure he has a lot on his back, a lot to prove. But like you said, he’s a veteran. He’s been fighting big names for a long time, so that might not even phase him.”

It’s certainly an interesting stylistic matchup — one that Hooker believes favors him.

Do you agree with Poirier?

Dan Hooker Thinks UFC Is Trying To Fast-Track Michael Chandler

Lightweight contender Dan Hooker thinks the UFC matched him up against Michael Chandler in an attempt to make his opponent look good, but he’s more than happy to play spoiler. Hooker and Chandler will face off in the co-main event of UFC 257 later this month. It will mark the UFC debut of Chandler, a […]

Lightweight contender Dan Hooker thinks the UFC matched him up against Michael Chandler in an attempt to make his opponent look good, but he’s more than happy to play spoiler.

Hooker and Chandler will face off in the co-main event of UFC 257 later this month. It will mark the UFC debut of Chandler, a former Bellator champion who has been heavily promoted since signing with the UFC this past September. He initially made weight and served as the back-up for the lightweight title fight at UFC 254, though his services were not needed. After being linked to a number of high-profile opponents, Chandler eventually signed on to the fight against Hooker.

‘The Hangman’ Hooker is coming off a pair of ‘Fight of the Year’ contending bouts in 2020, picking up a decision over Paul Felder before coming out on the wrong end of the scorecards against Dustin Poirier. In a recent interview with SCMP MMA, Hooker addressed his role as underdog coming in to the fight, and acknowledged the impact an upset victory could have for him (H/T BJPenn).

“I think they just wanted to get him to a title shot as quickly as possible,” Hooker said. “Anyone that’s been following the sport for a good amount of time knows that danger lies in time. Father time in this sport is not your friend. They want him to come in and look like the man, you know? So if he comes in and he whitewashes a top 5, top 4, top 3 opponent, then people will start going, ‘Title shot, title shot, title shot,’

“Because like 95 percent of people that watch it are lazy. They’ll only watch the highlight reel in the buildup to the fight so they’ll be like, ‘Whoa, he’s a former champ in another organization? He came in and beat a top 5. Now he’s fighting for a title!’ They’re not gonna actually go back and watch his fights. There’s like 5 percent of people that really study the sport and really watch the sport and really research the sport.”

Hooker knows that the UFC wants to leverage Chandler’s success outside of the octagon as a promotional tool. That being said, he’s looking forward to showing the organization they’re putting their money behind the wrong show-pony.

“The danger lies in getting to the top 5,” Hooker continued. “If you were to put him against anyone else who’s come up in the UFC, like top 50, then a top 30, then a top 20, then a top 15-10… then his chances of losing skyrocket exponentially. So the quicker they can get him to a title, the quicker they could market and sell him. To me, you’re gonna give me the new toy? I’m gonna break the new toy real quick. They invested a whole lot of money to get this guy out of his contract and get him over to the UFC and they’re gonna throw him in with me who’s like a bad stylistic matchup and I’m gonna break the toy in five minutes. It’s like, yeah… I can’t say I feel sorry for them (laughs).”

Do you think Dan Hooker will pull off the upset against Michael Chandler? Let us know!

Dan Hooker Eager To Spoil UFC’s Plans For Michael Chandler

Dan Hooker believes he has a firm read of the UFC’s plans for Michael Chandler and that he is just the guy to spoil them. The UFC has officially announced that Dan Hooker will be facing Michael Chandler at UFC 257 on January 23 in what will be Chandler…

Michael Chandler: Ferguson Fight Was Mismanaged

Michael Chandler explains why his fight with Tony Ferguson fight fell through, blaming the fact he wasn’t given enough time to prepare.

Former Bellator lightweight champion, Michael Chandler, sheds light on why his fight with Tony Ferguson fell through.

Chandler and Ferguson were due to face off at UFC 254 on 24th October 2020. However, negotiations went stale and Chandler was then made the backup fighter for the Justin Gaethje vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov title fight. Both fighters made it to the Octagon, meaning Chandler was left twiddling his thumbs. Fear not, as Chandler has finally been handed a UFC debut when he squares off against Dan Hooker at UFC 257. Still, why did his fight with Ferguson not make it to reality? (H/T BJPenn.com)

“The Tony Ferguson situation was definitely mismanaged. We had the opportunity for him and I to step in the cage in January, inside the Octagon, on this card, Tony says no,” Chandler said to ESPN. “Then, he takes a relatively short notice fight against Oliveira after calling me out. I say no, I needed three weeks, four weeks off after this last nine-month-long training camp I did. My opinion of him hasn’t changed, it is just unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that I’m not fighting Tony Ferguson right now, but I went through that through a day or so. Then, it was four other names and Hooker being one of them.”

Before Michael Chandler made the move to the UFC, he was on a two-fight winning streak. Two first-round KOs of Sidney Outlaw and Benson Henderson must have certainly whet Dana White and the UFC brass’s appetite. Before these finishes, Chandler lost his lightweight title after being TKO’d by Patricio Freire. Perhaps he will make his return to glory in the UFC’s lightweight division. Firstly, Chandler will have to get past Hooker if his plans of becoming champion are to be realised.

Where do you rank Michael Chandler in the UFC’s tough lightweight division? Do you think Michael Chandler will be a UFC champion?

Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler Official For UFC 257

Michael Chandler’s UFC debut is finally set to take place at UFC 257 in Fight Island Abu Dhabi against the number six lightweight in the world Dan Hooker. The matchup is expected to serve as the co-main event to Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto announced that the matchup is official last night. […]

“Official. Hooker (@danthehangma) vs. Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) is on for UFC 257 in Fight Island,” Okamoto wrote on social media. “A few last minute logistical hurdles needed to be cleared, but it’s now all set. 20 days away. Who you got?”

Official. Hooker (@danthehangma) vs. Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) is on for UFC 257 in Fight Island. A few last minute logistical hurdles needed to be cleared, but it’s now all set. 20 days away. Who you got? pic.twitter.com/y2WkXFcPHR

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 3, 2021

Michael Chandler will step into the octagon for the first time after signing to the organisation after he ran out his Bellator contract where he was a three time world champion. The 34 year old last competed at Bellator 243 when he KO’d former UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the first round. Chandler holds an impressive resume with wins over Eddie Alvarez, Benson Henderson and Patricky Freire. This will be Chandler’s second trip to fight island after he served as the backup for the main event at UFC 254 where Khabib Nurmagomedov retained his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje.

Dan Hooker is coming off a fight of the year contender against Dustin Poirier at UFC Vegas 4 where he lost a unanimous decision vs “The Diamond.” Hooker previously stated his interest in fighting Chandler and welcoming him into the octagon claiming “would love to be the guy to welcomes him to the UFC, knees his chin off, sends him back to the B-Leagues.” Hooker has shared the octagon with some of the top ranked Lightweights in the UFC such as Dustin Poirier, Paul Felder and Al Iaquinta.

Who do you have winning in the co-main of UFC 257?