UFC 257 Co-Main Event: Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler
UFC 257 co-main event
We’ve got an incredible co-main event to look forward to this weekend, as we finally get the much anticipated UFC debut of former multiple-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler, who will be squaring off with No. 6 ranked lightweight contender Dan Hooker at UFC 257.
This is such a great match up for so many reasons. Many of us have been waiting for Chandler to branch out, away from Bellator, and come over to the UFC for a considerable amount of time. It got to the point where we didn’t think it was going to happen.
However, in September, his contract with Bellator expired, and he chose not to renew it, but instead to come to the worlds leading mixed martial arts promotion, and he has a very tough task in front of him.
Honestly, Hooker may be the worst match up for Chandler out of the entire top ten. Before getting into the match up, let’s talk about what these studs have done in their careers:
Most of us got to know Chandler in 2011 following his victory over Eddie Alvarez, where he first captured the Bellator lightweight championship, submitting (rear naked choke) the 22-2 Alvarez in round four when he was just 8-0 himself.
That was his sixth victory inside the Bellator squared circle, he’d also gone 2-0 in Strikeforce, and already had victories over the likes of Marcin Held (arm-triangle choke), Patricky Freire (UD), and of course, Eddie Alvarez.
Chandler’s next outing would be a non-title bout against Japanese legend Akihiro Gono, who he TKO’d just 56 seconds into round one. He then defended his title against Rick Hawn (rear naked choke), and then David Rickels (KO), before rematching Eddie Alvarez.
Alvarez racked up back-to-back knockout victories following his defeat to Chandler, and defeated Chandler via split decision this time around. This was a very close fight that could’ve gone either way, but the judges just didn’t see it for ‘Iron’ Mike.
Chandler then fought Will Brooks for the interim Bellator lightweight championship, and also lost this fight via split decision. Again, this was also a very close fight that could’ve easily went his way. He’d just fallen from 12-0 to 12-2, and could’ve easily been 14-0.
Next came a rematch with Brooks, where Chandler was TKO’d in round four, making for his third straight defeat after opening his career up as an undefeated three-time world champion.
Chandler rebounded beautifully from these setbacks, winning his next two over Derek Campos (rear naked choke) and David Rickels (TKO) in their rematch, before rematching Patricky Freire for the vacant Bellator lightweight championship, as Alvarez and Brooks both made their way to the UFC.
Chandler KO’d Freire in round one this time around, and was again the Bellator lightweight champion. He then defended his title against former WEC & UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson via split decision.
His fourth defeat would follow immediately afterward however, as he was injured in his bout against Brent Primus, losing his title via TKO in round one.
Chandler won his next three fights over the likes of Goiti Yamauchi (UD), Brandon Girtz (arm-triangle choke), and Brent Primus (UD) in their rematch, recapturing his throne in the 
process.
Chandler then fought Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Freire, where he was TKO’d 61 seconds into round one. Some people dispute this stoppage, some don’t. Nonetheless, he was certainly hurt badly, and he’d lost his title again.
He rebounded from this with back-to-back KO victories over Sidney Outlaw and Benson Henderson in their rematch, and now he’s making his UFC debut five months later at UFC 257.
Dan Hooker burst onto the scene in 2014 as a featherweight, and initially went 3-3 upon joining the UFC.
This included victories over Ian Entwistle (TKO), Japanese legend Hatsu Hioki (KO), Mark Eddiva (guillotine choke), and defeats to Maximo Blanco, Yair Rodriguez, and Jason Knight, all three via unanimous decision.
Hooker then decided to move up to 155 lbs, where he belongs, and has had a considerable amount of success here at lightweight.
He initially went on a four-fight win streak once moving up, defeating the likes of Ross Pearson (KO), Marc Diakiese (guillotine choke), Jim
Miller (KO), and Gilbert Burns (KO).
This streak was interrupted by Edson Barboza, who KO’d Hooker in round three with a nasty body shot, before Hooker went on another streak, this time defeating the likes of James Vick (KO), Al Iaquinta (UD), and Paul Felder (SD).
This brings us up to his most recent bout, where he lost a unanimous decision to Dustin Poirier in June of 2020.
Dan Hooker (20-9) vs. Michael Chandler (21-5)
This is such a compelling match up, it’s a blessing we’ll be able to see it go down this Saturday. Firstly, we’ll start off with their frames. Hooker stands 6’1” with a 75” reach, while Chandler stands 5’8” with a 71” reach.
That could play a huge factor, Hooker is a big, big man. However, if Chandler can get his wrestling going, it’ll open up his strikes that he’s so great at covering distance with.
This bout will also be three rounds, of course, being the co-main event. That favors Chandler, because while he’s been able to win some fights that go into deep waters, he does tire, and Hooker doesn’t.
Chandler did wrestle for an NCAA Division I college and completed a record of 100-40 throughout the four years he attended, winning a silver medal in the Big 12 Championships twice.
Hooker needs to keep his range and land that one hard shot in order to win this fight. Chandler has shown the ability to getting hurt with strikes before, and it could be argued that Hooker hits harder than anyone he’s ever fought previous.
This is going to be such a telling fight, we’ve been wondering how good Chandler is for the better part of a decade now. We’re finally able to see what he has against the very best in the world.
Don’t get it mixed, Bellator has some great fighters, but the UFC is a different level, especially at 155 lbs.
Of Chandler’s 21 victories, nine come via knockout, seven come via submission, and five come via decision.
Of Hooker’s 20 victories, ten come via knockout, seven come via submission, and just three come via decision. Actually, his last two victories were both decisions, if that says anything about his finishing abilities.
Hooker will be turning 31-years-old next month, while Chandler will be turning 35-years-old in April.
Who wins this co-main event lightweight clash at UFC 257?
