Tag: Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler Explains Why He Picks Hooker To Upset Makhachev

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has given his prediction for his former opponent Dan Hooker’s upcoming clash with Islam Makhachev.

On short notice, Hooker will be facing Makhachev on the main card of UFC 267 this weekend. T…

Michael Chandler, UFC 267: Hooker vs. Makhachev

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has given his prediction for his former opponent Dan Hooker’s upcoming clash with Islam Makhachev.

On short notice, Hooker will be facing Makhachev on the main card of UFC 267 this weekend. The Dagestani was originally set to face bitter rival Rafael dos Anjos at the Abu Dhabi-held event. For the third time since last October, that matchup collapsed in the build-up. Following surgery, the Brazilian was forced to pull out and, should Makhachev secure a victory on Saturday, will likely be moving onto different things when he returns to action.

For Hooker, this will mark his second Octagon outing in just over a month. “The Hangman” rebounded from back-to-back setbacks against Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler with a mature performance against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266. Just days later, the New Zealander found himself signing another bout agreement, this time against the #5-ranked lightweight, and the heir apparent to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Chandler Backs His Former Opponent

Having risen to #6 in the 155-pound top 15, Hooker will be looking to stake his claim for a title shot with an impressive performance against the surging Makhachev on Saturday’s main card. But many have doubted his ability to handle the Dagestani. Along with AKA head coach Javier Mendez, Khabib, Makhachev’s friend and teammate, believes a “lucky punch” is the only way his man falls short against the New Zealander.

While Hooker himself has disputed those claims, top-five lightweight Michael Chandler has also expressed his disagreement with that assessment. “Iron,” who faced and defeated “The Hangman” in his UFC debut earlier this year, recently explained why he’s backing the underdog to have his hand raised.

During an interview with The Schmo, Chandler denied the idea that his first-round win against Hooker showed any sort of weakness in the 31-year-old’s toughness or chin. But not only does he not see a path to a finish for Makhachev, but the former Bellator Lightweight Champion believes Hooker will use his length to keep the Russian at distance and defend against his attempts to control the action on the cage.

“Man, I think Dan Hooker is one of the toughest guys in the division, one of the toughest chins in the division, and I think this is a fight game in which we fight in four-ounce gloves, man. You can get caught on the chin by anybody on any night and it’s over. So the fact that I was able to finish him in the first two and a half minutes is not indicative of him not having a great chin, not being able to push the pace. He’s extremely long. He’s extremely versatile. He uses that length. I think Makachev is gonna have a tough time getting in and closing the distance on Dan Hooker. Even if he does get him on the cage, I think Dan Hooker’s cage defense—as we saw in Poirier fight, as we saw in his last fight, both offense and defense off of the cage control—he’s really skilled there. So I do think Dan Hooker wins that fight. I do.”

Having suggested he’d rather outclass his opponent across three rounds and secure a dominant decision, Hooker will be happy to hear Chandler predicting him to do just that.

Do you agree with Michael Chandler’s prediction? Can Hooker defeat Makhachev at UFC 267?

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Chander Thinks Makhachev Is ‘The Future’ But Undeserving Of Top 5 Rank

Michael Chandler may have respect for Islam Makhachev, but he believes something was fishy with the Russian’s jump in rankings. After a long tenure in Bellator that saw him being their biggest homegrown star, Chandler made the move to the UFC where he beat Dan Hooker by first-round knockout in his debut. Hooker will now […]

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Michael Chandler may have respect for Islam Makhachev, but he believes something was fishy with the Russian’s jump in rankings.

After a long tenure in Bellator that saw him being their biggest homegrown star, Chandler made the move to the UFC where he beat Dan Hooker by first-round knockout in his debut. Hooker will now be taking on Makhachev at UFC 267, just one month after going to a decision with Nasrat Haqparast.

Given his relationship with Hooker, it makes sense that Chandler was asked about this fight and Makhachev as a whole while speaking in an interview with The Schmo. Here, the top-ranked lightweight said that there is a good chance the Khabib protege will be the future of the division, although he thinks it is questionable that Makhachev was able to jump in the top 5 of the division without beating anyone within the top ten.

“I think Makachev fought #14. He was #9. He fought #14, beat #14, and somehow ended up with #5 without having to fight anybody in that upper echelon in the top 10. But Makachev is definitely a future of the lightweight division. He is good, he is skilled, he does have the entire country on his back, so he’s fighting for more than just himself,“ Chandler said.

Michael Chandler was not the only one confused by this when the rankings update came out and showed that Islam Makhachev was in the top five after beating Thiago Moisés. That said, when thinking about it a little more, it makes it easy to realize that this may have been a combination of his winning streak, his relationship with UFC superstar Khabib, and how hard it was to find him a fight while being ranked so low.

Either way, Islam Makhachev will have the chance to prove he is deserving of his place in the rankings when he takes on Dan Hooker at UFC 267. This will easily be the biggest test of his young career.

Continue Reading Chander Thinks Makhachev Is ‘The Future’ But Undeserving Of Top 5 Rank at MMA News.

Hooker: Makhachev Fight Is A Title Eliminator, Not Chandler/Gaethje

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker believes his upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev is more of a title eliminator than UFC 268’s Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler clash. Hooker was recently in action at UFC 266. At the September pay-per-view, he faced the unranked Nasrat Haqparast. After consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Chandler, “The Hangman” […]

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UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker believes his upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev is more of a title eliminator than UFC 268’s Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler clash.

Hooker was recently in action at UFC 266. At the September pay-per-view, he faced the unranked Nasrat Haqparast. After consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Chandler, “The Hangman” rebounded inside the T-Mobile Arena with a comfortable unanimous decision victory over his German opponent.

Just days out from his latest outing, which came after weeks of training and visa issues, Hooker accepted a short-notice opportunity against one of the most highly touted names in the division, Makhachev. The Russian was initially slated to fight bitter rival Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 267 this weekend. After the Brazilian withdrew through injury, Hooker stepped up to face the #5-ranked lightweight contender in Abu Dhabi.

Ahead of this month’s non-pay-per-view numbered event, Hooker has suggested his matchup with the surging Dagestani is likely a number one contender bout. That’s despite the general consensus seemingly following the idea that the November 6 contest between former title challengers Gaethje and Chandler holds that status.

During an interview with It’s Time For Sports, “The Hangman” said that despite not receiving confirmation of it from the UFC, he “feels” as if the winner of his UFC 267 main card fight will compete for the 155-pound gold. The New Zealander believes his matchup with Makhachev is more of a title eliminator than the blockbuster lightweight showdown set for Madison Square Garden next month.

“They’ll never put that in writing. That’s not something that they do. It’s more just a feeling. I feel like this is a title eliminator more than the Chandler fight [vs. Gaethje]. Like, I was more uncertain about whether me vs. Michael Chandler was a title eliminator than this fight [vs. Makhachev].”

According to Hooker, the classification of his fight as a title eliminator comes from the stock the promotion is putting into Makhachev. He believes a victory for the American Kickboxing Academy product would certainly see him challenge for the lightweight belt next. With that in mind, the #6-ranked contender doesn’t see why he wouldn’t be afforded the same treatment should he defeat the 30-year-old on October 30.

“The amount of stock they’re putting into Islam, they’re setting him up for a title, like, 100%. And that’s just not how a title eliminator works. You can’t have a title eliminator where one guy wins and he gets a title [shot] and the other guy doesn’t. That’s not a title eliminator. So, I feel like when I get the job done, that’s what’s next for me.”

Do you think Dan Hooker vs. Islam Makhachev is a title eliminator?

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Michael Chandler Names Justin Gaethje As His ‘Scariest’ Opponent

Michael ChandlerAhead of his UFC 268 bout, Michael Chandler has stated that his opponent Justin Gaethje is ‘scariest’ he has ever faced. Chandler and Gaethje are scheduled to square off on November 6 in what will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Both men are very well known for their fan-friendly, all-action […]

Michael Chandler

Ahead of his UFC 268 bout, Michael Chandler has stated that his opponent Justin Gaethje is ‘scariest’ he has ever faced.

Chandler and Gaethje are scheduled to square off on November 6 in what will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Both men are very well known for their fan-friendly, all-action style and if it gels, could be a fight of the year type fight.

This will mark Chandler’s third appearance for the promotion 10 months since joining the UFC in early 2021, debutin by knocking out Dan Hooker in round one. Chandler last fought back in May in a losing battle to current lightweight champion Charles Olivera for the vacant 155lb belt, in what was one of the most exciting fights of the year.

This will mark Gaethje’s first fight in over a year, since his submission loss to then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Before the loss, Gaethje was riding a four-fight win streak including a dominant performance over Tony Ferguson for the interim UFC lightweight title.

In an interview with Brett Okamoto, Chandler had this to say about ‘The Highlight’- “I will say that I think Justin Gaethje is the scariest guy I’ve ever fought, he’s the craziest guy I’ve ever fought. I’ve fought some very tough guys is the past but he takes the cake.

“Listen when people say stuff like that [enjoying when a fight gets tough] it’s always blunder unless it Justin Gaethje, I truly believe when he says those things, the dude really thinks that.”

Although the pair are set to battle in what could be a bout that could determine who would be next in the line for a title shot, there seems to be a huge amount of mutual respect. Chandler had this to say “His name was one was of the names I said when I first got into the UFC I was excited to fight Justin Gaethje. I was excited to compete against him because I truly respect him, if I was a fan and I wasn’t in the sport of mixed martial arts he would be one of my favrioute fighters.”

What do you think? Could Michael Chandler vs. Justin Gaethje be a fight of the year contender?

Chandler: Gaethje Is The Scariest And Craziest Guy I’ve Ever Fought

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler believes former interim champion Justin Gaethje is the “scariest” and “craziest” fighter he’s ever been matched up with. Chandler has found himself well in the mix of the 155-pound elites despite only having two Octagon outings under his belt. After making the switch from Bellator to the UFC in 2020, “Iron” […]

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UFC lightweight Michael Chandler believes former interim champion Justin Gaethje is the “scariest” and “craziest” fighter he’s ever been matched up with.

Chandler has found himself well in the mix of the 155-pound elites despite only having two Octagon outings under his belt. After making the switch from Bellator to the UFC in 2020, “Iron” made his promotional debut on Fight Island in January this year. In what was a tough opening test on paper, the 35-year-old faced the relentless and entertaining Dan Hooker. Halfway through the opening round, Chandler recorded one of the most impressive debut victories in UFC history.

Following his TKO win against “The Hangman,” Chandler found himself booked to fight for the title at UFC 262, courtesy of Dustin Poirier’s decision to purse a money trilogy fight with Conor McGregor rather than compete for gold. At the May pay-per-view, the former Bellator champion faced UFC mainstay Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound belt. Despite dominating the opening frame, Chandler was on the receiving end of a remarkable comeback, and fell to “Do Bronx” via a second-round TKO.

Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler
UFC 262: Chandler vs. Oliveira (Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

Following the first blemish on his UFC record, Chandler will be looking to re-enter the win column in his next outing on November 6. However, he probably couldn’t have chosen a tougher opponent to try to rebound against. At UFC 268, the former NCAA Division 1 All-American will welcome Justin Gaethje back to the Octagon.

Like Chandler, “The Highlight” hasn’t fought since falling short of the lightweight mountaintop in his last appearance. After a submission defeat to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov last October, Gaethje found himself on the sidelines and snubbed of the chance to fight for the vacated belt. He’ll look to immediately return to title contention with an impressive performance against the #4-ranked contender.

Chandler is well aware of the challenge he’s set to face next month. During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, “Iron” assured fans that, like usual, he’s preparing for a war.

“Truthfully, I’m always prepared for a war. That’s what you have to do. You prepare for that war, the worst-case scenario, deep in the suck, deep in the middle of these tough, tough rounds against a very tough opponent who you just can’t put away [and] he’s trying to put you away. That’s what you prepare for.

“You never prepare for the quick knockouts, you never prepare for the quick submissions. You hone those skills in order to have those skills come out in the Octagon. This camp isn’t much different.”

Further discussing his upcoming opponent, Chandler claimed that Gaethje is “by far” the scariest and craziest opponent he’s ever faced. Nevertheless, the former three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion suggested that only encourages him to train and prepare even harder.

“I will say, I think Justin Gaethje is the scariest guy that I’ve ever fought, he’s the craziest guy that I’ve ever fought. I’ve fought some very tough guys in the past, but he by far takes the cake. There’s that little bit of added intrigue to it, and really it just wakes me up a little bit earlier in the morning, it helps me go a couple extra rounds, it helps me do a little bit more and be a little bit more focused in my preparations because I know this guy ain’t going away quickly.”

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 268, Michael Chandler or Justin Gaethje?

Continue Reading Chandler: Gaethje Is The Scariest And Craziest Guy I’ve Ever Fought at MMA News.

Javier Mendez Sees More Options For Justin Gaethje To Win Than Michael Chandler

Gaethje ChandlerAmerican Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez is leaning towards Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. Gaethje returns to action for the first time in over a year when he faces Chandler at UFC 268 which takes place November 6 in Madison Square Garden, New York. Just about everyone is expecting a knockout within the first […]

Gaethje Chandler

American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez is leaning towards Justin Gaethje at UFC 268.

Gaethje returns to action for the first time in over a year when he faces Chandler at UFC 268 which takes place November 6 in Madison Square Garden, New York.

Just about everyone is expecting a knockout within the first five minutes as both fighters carry heavy power.

Mendez, however, believes Gaethje has more tools in his toolbox which should see “The Highlight” come out on top and return to the win column.

In particular, Mendez mentioned Gaethje’s leg kicking ability.

“Chandler’s a hell of a fighter. He’s got good speed, good power,” Mendez said on Mike Swick’s podcast (via Middle Easy). “Gaethje’s got a bigger chin and he’s fantastic at those low calf kicks. I don’t think Michael is as proficient with those leg kicks, just as I warned Khabib.

“… I don’t think Michael is going to be able to stop him on those calf kicks. Even if you practice them, he’s so good at them that even Khabib couldn’t really stop those calf kicks from coming in. He went through him because Khabib is just mentally tough.”

Whether Chandler can get through them as well remains to be seen. But in the end, Mendez simply feels Gaethje has more pathways to victory than Chandler.

“Justin Gaethje is going to be a handful for Michael but anything can happen. Michael’s got the power, the speed, they’ve both got good wrestling,” Mendez added. “I think the stronger chin is definitely Gaethje, I think the stronger kicker is definitely Gaethje and I think they match up well as far as power. … I think Gaethje has more options to win.”

Do you agree?