Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler (21-5, 9 KOs, 7 SUBs) will make his UFC debut against No. 6 lightweight contender Dan Hooker (20-9, 10 KOs, 7 SUBs) in the co-main event of UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The matchup headlines a main event between former lightweight champion Conor McGregor (22-4, 19 KOs, 1 SUB) and former interim champion Dustin Poirier (26-6, 12 KOs, 7 SUBs). Let's break down the Chandler vs. Hooker odds and get to your best online betting picks. The UFC odds at BookMaker.eu opened with Hooker as a slight -140 favorite, with Chandler at +110 on the comeback.
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The Setup
How will one of Bellator's most dominant fighters fare in the UFC? We'll get a glimpse of the answer this Saturday when Michael Chandler makes his debut. The 34-year old vacated the Bellator strap to swim with the big fishes in the octagon, and he's being thrown into deep waters against a gangster in Dan Hooker. The fact that Chandler was the official backup for Khabib's last fight against Poirier shows that the UFC has a lot of respect for him. Chandler has been talking a big game, stating his intentions to capture the UFC strap. Can he live up to the sky-high expectations?
Michael Chandler (21-5, 9 KOs, 7 SUBs)
There are probably quite a few folks that need an introduction to Chandler. He's a homegrown Bellator star and a three-time champ for the promotion. As a longtime staple at the top of the division, he's fought every big name Bellator had to offer - a list that includes Eddie Alvarez, Will Brooks, Patricky Freire and Benson Henderson.
At 5'8", Chandler fits the stocky, powerful mold and is a well-rounded fighter. On the feet, he's a powerful boxer in the pocket, using overhand rights and lefts to take chunks off his opponent's life meter. He's usually the guy pushing the pace - a strong tactic that sometimes leaves him vulnerable to counters. Chandler's defense comes and goes, and he can be far too reliant on his durability.
Where he really shines is his wrestling. A former University of Missouri mat rat, Chandler has advanced entries and drives with authority. His top control can be suffocating, and he maximizes his advantage with brutal GNP. Grappling is an area where he's probably underrated, as nearly half of his finishes have come by way of submission.
Dan Hooker (20-9, 10 KOs, 7 SUBs)
"Hangman" fights are not to be missed. Since moving up to lightweight after an uneven featherweight stint, the Kiwi has been a cyborg. The easier weight cut has resulted in an endless gas tank and superhuman durability, and both are vital in how he achieves victory.
Hooker is all pressure, all the time. Even against a killer in Poirier, he never stopped coming forward despite eating bombs. Long, rangy and powerful, Hooker relies on a dynamic kickboxing arsenal that dishes out copious damage at all levels. Often, his fights become trench wars, with two dudes slugging it out to the bitter end. Hooker often comes out on top in these situations, but it's also led him to some brutal beatings, like when he kept coming forward against Edson Barboza.
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Chandler 4.08 / Hooker 4.90
Strikes absorbed per minute: Chandler 3.81 / Hooker 48%
Striking accuracy: Chandler 47% / Hooker 4.89
Striking defense: Chandler 52% / Hooker 52%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Chandler 2.57 / Hooker 0.74
Takedown accuracy: Chandler 41% / Hooker 34%
Takedown defense: Chandler 80% / Hooker 79%
Submissions per 15 minutes: Chandler 1.5 / Hooker 0.3
UFC Picks
It's tough enough to transition from Bellator to the UFC. It's absolutely brutal for dudes jumping right into the title mix. While Chandler has the skills to beat Hooker, we feel it'll take him a fight or two to really get comfortable inside the octagon. The former Bellator champ is going to have a lot of problems with Hooker's height and range, and will likely struggle penetrating his 80% takedown defense. At this price, Hooker is an easy pick.
UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor II Card & Odds
Lightweight - Dustin Poirier +261 vs. Conor McGregor -329
Lightweight - Nasrat Haqparast +218 vs. Arman Tsarukyan -269
Women's Featherweight - Marina Rodriguez +257 vs. Amanda Ribas -323
Women's Flyweight - Jessica Eye -107 vs. Joanne Calderwood -117
Light Heavyweight - Marcin Prachnio +267 vs. Khalil Rountree -337
Middleweight - Antonio Carlos Junior +113 vs. Brad Tavares -137
Lightweight - Matt Frevola +136 vs. Ottman Azaitar -164
Flyweight - Amir Albazi -102 vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov -122
Middleweight - Andrew Sanchez +116 vs. Makhmud Muradov -142
Women's Bantamweight - Julianna Pena +103 vs. Sara McMann -127
Lightweight - Michael Chandler -109 vs. Dan Hooker -115
Catchweight - Nik Lentz +354 vs. Movsar Evloev -468
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