UFC 257 co-main event
The first numbered UFC tournament in 2021 will take place in Abu Dhabi (UAE) this Sunday. A nice bonus of UFC 257 will be that the tournament at the Etihad Arena will be able to attend about 2,000 fans.
For most fans, UFC 257 is just a rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, but the matchmakers have prepared a pretty good warm-up for the main course.
The co-main event, as well as the main event of the evening, will feature a potential lightweight contender fight between Chandler and Hooker.
Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler will make his UFC debut and stand a good chance of getting a title shot if he wins Sunday morning. Chandler, who gave 10 years of his Bellator career, had only one fight last year: in August at Bellator 243, he knocked out Benson Henderson, who once held the UFC lightweight title, in just over two minutes.
Hooker will return after losing. In June 2020, he fought Dustin Poirier and came into the fight on a three win streak, defeating James Vick, Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder. With Poirier, the New Zealander had an exciting five rounds, as a result of which all three judges determined the winner of the “Diamond”.
Prediction for the fight
Chandler is almost equally good in the standing and ground positions, and can finish the opponent in any plane, but still grappling is an even stronger side. Hooker has good ground skills, but first and foremost he is a top-notch kickboxer with knockout power.
On Hooker’s side, the difference is in size and stamina. If he does not allow himself to be dragged to the ground by Chandler, then he should lead in the standing position. Considering Hooker’s punch and Chandler’s not-so-reliable chin, let’s assume that the Executioner wins a stoppage victory.
Hooker wins by knockout in the 3rd round
Main card
Conor McGregor – Dustin Poirier
Michael Chandler – Dan Hooker
Jessica I – Joan Calderwood
Matt Frevola – Ottman Azaitar
Marina Rodriguez – Amanda Ribas
preliminary card
Nasrat Khakparast – Arman Tsarukyan
Brad Tavares – António Carlos Junior
Julianna Peña – Sarah McMann
Khalil Rowntree – Marcin Prahnio
Early preliminary card
Andrew Sanchez – Mahmud Muradov
Movsar Evloev – Nick Lenz
Amir Albazi – Zhalgas Zhumagulov
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