UFC 4 - Hooker vs. Chandler - Original Fighters 🥋🤼 #UFC257

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Super Dragon

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Published on January 23, 2021 9:00:08 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssgb-SI0Eo8

Game:

EA Sports UFC 4 (2020)

Duration: 32:47

1,347 views

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Michael Chandler (born April 24, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist, who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2009, he is a former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion and was the winner of the Bellator Season Four: Lightweight Tournament. He also competed in collegiate wrestling out of the University of Missouri, where he earned NCAA Division I All-American honors.

Mixed martial arts career

Immediately after his wrestling career was over, Chandler began training mixed martial arts at Xtreme Couture. He opted out of competing as an amateur and in August 2009, Chandler made his professional MMA debut with a first-round TKO victory over Kyle Swadley.

Strikeforce

Chandler made his Strikeforce debut on November 20, 2009 at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears where he fought Richard Bouphanouvong, He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.

His next fight in the promotion took place on May 15, 2010 at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery where he fought Sal Wood. He won the bout via submission in under a minute.

Bellator MMA

Chandler made his Bellator debut on September 30, 2010, at Bellator 31, where he defeated Scott Stapp via technical knockout in the first round. The match was contested at a catchweight for Chandler to test himself for the lightweight division, all his previous bouts being in the welterweight division.

In his next Bellator appearance, Chandler competed on the Bellator 32 card against Chris Page in a welterweight contest. He won the bout via submission in the first round.

In February 2011, it was announced that Chandler would be a part of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. In the opening round of the tournament, Chandler faced Marcin Held, at Bellator 36. He won the contest via technical submission after choking Held unconscious with an arm-triangle choke. The win moved Chandler into the semi-finals.

Chandler then faced Lloyd Woodard at Bellator 40 and won via unanimous decision to move onto the finals of the tournament.

The tournament final took place at Bellator 44 where Chandler faced Patricky Freire. He utilized his wrestling skills, repeatedly taking down Freire and controlling the fight. He defeated Freire via unanimous decision to win $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator Lightweight World Championship.

Lightweight Championship

Chandler was expected to compete against Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator Lightweight World Championship at Bellator 54. However, Alvarez suffered an undisclosed injury and forcing the bout to be postponed until a later date. The bout was then rescheduled to take place on November 19, 2011 at Bellator 58. Chandler defeated Eddie Alvarez via submission in the fourth round in an instant classic.

In his first fight after winning the title, Chandler faced Akihiro Gono in a non-title superfight at Bellator 67. He won the match via technical knockout at just 56 seconds into the first round.

Chandler made the first defense of his title against Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament Winner Rick Hawn, on January 17, 2013 at Bellator 85. He won the bout via submission in the second round.

Chandler was set to make his second defense against Bellator Season Seven Lightweight Tournament Winner Dave Jansen June 19, 2013 at Bellator 96. However, on June 2, it was announced that Jansen had pulled out of the bout due to an injury and faced David Rickels at Bellator 97 instead. He won the bout via knockout in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On September 17, 2020, it was announced that Chandler had signed a contract with the UFC and served as a backup for a title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

Chandler is scheduled to make his promotional debut against Dan Hooker at UFC 257 on January 24, 2021.

Daniel Preston Hooker (born 13 February 1990) is a New Zealand mixed martial artist. He was the King in the Ring Middleweight Kickboxing Champion and WKBF X-Rules Welterweight Champion, and currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of December 14, 2020, he is #6 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

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