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Stephen Foote

The UFC‘s marquee acquisition of former Bellator champion Michael Chandler earlier this month has sent ripples through the promotion’s lightweight division.
The 34-year-old American (21-5) has long been considered one of the world‘s best 155-pound fighters and a jewel that has been glaring in its absence from the UFC crown.
The esteem in which he‘s held by the UFC brass has instantly been made clear, with Chandler immediately named as the injury replacement for next month’s mouth-watering championship showdown between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
But one of the loudest voices to call for the opportunity to welcome Chandler to the UFC has come from No 4 ranked Dan Hooker.


“I‘m more than happy to put my hand up to fight Michael Chandler,” Hooker told SCMP MMA. “Especially with the amount of stock that the UFC have put into him. He‘s the standby for the world title shot, that’s how much they believe in that guy.”
The New Zealander last fought in June, when he pushed Dustin Poirier to the limit in a five-round instant classic that’s a lock as one of the leading candidates for 2020’s “Fight of the Year”.
McGregor’s heart clearly remains in UFC despite posturing
The 30-year-old Hooker has earned a deserved reputation for such action-packed, crowd-pleasers, and the possibility of a clash against another renowned show-stopper in Chandler seems a sure-fire recipe for warfare.
Chandler leaves Bellator on a two-fight win streak, fresh off a first-round demolition of former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson last month. Given Chandler will be in – or at least, in the proximity of – fight shape means the opportunity to put together a bout before the end of the year is well within reason.
“He'll be waiting around for Khabib v Gaethje to play out in October,” Hooker said. He’ll be ready for that, so he’ll be ready to fight. So we can put something together late November or December.”

As far as that blockbuster UFC 254 main event fight goes, Hooker can only see one winner.
“I think Khabib [wins]. He’s just too much,” he said.
“I don‘t think Gaethje has fought an opponent like that … that’s going to just run him down and use his wrestling, so I’m picking Khabib.”


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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 18: Conor McGregor (L) punches Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena on January 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor won by first-round TKO. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

(FILES) This file photo taken late on June 6, 2019 shows Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao training at a gym in Manila, ahead of his World Boxing Association title bout next month against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas. - Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao wants to fight Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in the ring next year, an aide said in a statement on September 26, 2020. (Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP)

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 27:  (R-L) Israel Adesanya of Nigeria kicks Paulo Costa of Brazil in their middleweight championship bout during UFC 253 inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on September 27, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

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Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Kiwi targets fight with former Bellator champ – who is on standby for the UFC 254 main event – in November or December
No 4-ranked Hooker picking lightweight champ Nurmagomedov to retain title on Fight Island next month



Dan Hooker targets fight with former Bellator champ Michael Chandler this year, and is picking Khabib Nurmagomedov to retain lightweight title at UFC 254.
