Meet Michael Chandler, the unknown and best MMA fighter you’ve never heard of ahead of UFC 257 fight with Dan Hooker
THE long-awaited UFC debut of Michael Chandler will finally take place this weekend.
The UFC new-boy will make his bow on Saturday night in the co-main event of UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.
And to say he’s been given a baptism of fire for his first octagon outing would be somewhat of an understatement.
Chandler will be welcomed to the promotion by the dangerous Dan Hooker, the No.6-ranked lightweight in the world.
The 34-year-old’s debut will serve as the appetiser for Conor McGregor’s pivotal lightweight showdown with Dustin Poirier, which he’ll no doubt have his eye on.
Chandler’s chances of getting the better of New Zealand’s Hooker have been written off by many UFC fans, despite most of them never actually watching any of his fights.
But they’re wrong to write off a veteran of the sport who has long been considered to be the best 155-pounder outside of the UFC.
Here’s everything thing you need to know about the latest addition to the shark-infested waters that is the UFC’s lightweight division:
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Where is Michael Chandler from?
Chandler, a favourite of many die-hard MMA fans, was born in High Ridge, Missouri but resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Where does he train and who is his coach?
When he’s in camp, Chandler trains at Sanford MMA in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Sanford MMA is home to some well-known fighters, including welterweight title contender Gilbert Burns and former light-heavyweight title challenger Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson.
Chandler trains under the tutelage of renowned MMA coach and former kickboxer Henri Hooft.
Where has he fought previously?
Chandler has fought for three promotions during his career, including the now-defunct Strikeforce.
But he’s most well known for his stint in Bellator, where he competed for a close to a decade before the expiration of his contract.
Has he fought any big names?
Despite joining the UFC late in his career – although he’s still very much at the peak of his powers – Chandler has fought some of the best lightweights in the world.
He’s has gone to war with Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire twice, Will Brooks twice and has twice thrown down with former UFC lightweight champions Eddie Alvarez and Benson Henderson.
And with the exception of Brooks – who had a 13-month stint in the UFC – Chandler has registered wins over three of the previously-mentioned quartet.
Has he won any world titles?
Yes, Chandler has won world titles. In fact, he’s a three-time Bellator lightweight champion.
During his three reigns as Bellator’s 155lb king, Chandler made three titles defences – two of which came in his first stint as champ.
What’s his fighting style?
Chandler is an NCAA All-American Division One wrestler, but he doesn’t rely solely on his wrestling credentials to get the job done.
As the years have gone by, Chandler has honed his striking to the point where his technique is smooth and crisp – which has led to some devastating finishes.
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In his final Bellator outing last summer, Chandler starched Henderson in the first round.
To give you some context as to how impressive that stoppage was, Henderson had only ever been stopped once before.
And if having dynamite in both his hands wasn’t enough, Chandler also possesses a crushing submission game.
Once he gets his opponents down on the canvas, the combination of his freaky strength and his jiu-jitsu skills – which he hones with multiple world champion Burns – is often too much for his opponents to handle, with seven of his 21 foes being forced to submit to his will.
What has he said ahead of his showdown with Dan Hooker?
Chandler is relishing his underdog status going into his maiden UFC bout and is looking forward to silencing those who believe he’s not ready to mix it with the lightweight division’s elite.
But proving the doubters wrong is not his main goal for Saturday night.
He told SunSport: “The UFC is the longest-standing organisation, it is the highest level. If you’re not ranked in the UFC, you’re not ranked in a lot of people’s eyes.
“If you don’t fight in the UFC, you’re not a professional mixed martial artist in a lot of people’s eyes.
“I hear those things, I hear those people saying those things. But that’s gonna happen no matter what. People are always going to talk.
“When I’m world champion and I’m having phenomenal performances, I’m still gonna hear negativity.
“But for me, it’s always been about proving to my supporters and my fans and my followers and my closest inner circle – proving all them right. Not proving the doubters wrong.
“Proving all them right, just as a byproduct, by default, I’ll prove everybody else wrong. And then eventually, they’ll jump on the bandwagon.
“And eventually they will open their mind and open their heart to, ‘Okay, maybe Michael Chandler is the real deal.’
“Then again, maybe they won’t. Maybe I’ll fall flat on my face on Saturday night and they’ll all laugh at me and they’re proven right. So we’ll see.”