Much was made leading up to Michael Chandler’s UFC debut – and when the time finally came, he delivered.
The former long-time Bellator lightweight champion, Chandler sent a big message to the UFC’s 155-pound division when he finished Dan Hooker with punches at 2:30 of Round 1.
Afterward, Chandler delivered a blistering promo calling out still-champion-but-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, and Dustin Poirier.
Not a bad UFC debut for @MikeChandlerMMA 😳 #UFC257 pic.twitter.com/9PhUnKJx0g
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 24, 2021
From the opening bell, Chandler (22-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) came out flying. Using a ton of pressure, Chandler threw kicks and punches, all the while stalking Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC). A powerful sequence stunned Hooker as the clock approached the midway point of the round. Hooker crumpled to the mat, and Chandler followed up with some more punches. That was all referee Marc Goddard needed to see.
Following the reading of the decision, Chandler took to the microphone and called the win the greatest moment of his professional career. But that wasn’t all as he issued the callout to the three top lightweights.
The victory marks Chandler’s sixth win in seven fights, with his only loss in that stretch coming to Bellator dual champ Patricio Freire. Chandler now rides a three-fight winning streak.
Chandler, a three-time Bellator lightweight champion who fought for the promotion for a decade and served as one of its faces, made his highly anticipated UFC debut after signing with the promotion last September.
As for Hooker, the New Zealand-based fighter has lost back-to-back fights for the first time since 2010. Prior to the loss to Chandler, “The Hangman” came up short-handed in a unanimous decision defeat to Poirier last June.
The lightweight bout was the UFC 257 co-main event at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 257 results include:
- Michael Chandler def. Dan Hooker via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:30
- Joanne Calderwood def. Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Makhmud Muradov def. Andrew Sanchez via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:59
- Marina Rodriguez def. Amanda Ribas via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 0:54
- Arman Tsarukyan def. Matt Frevola via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Brad Tavares def. Antonio Carlos Junior via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Julianna Pena def. Sara McMann via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:39
- Marcin Prachnio def. Khalil Rountree via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Movsar Evloev def. Nik Lentz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Amir Albazi def. Zhalgas Zhumagulovc via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
