UFC 257: Dan Hooker playing ‘Conor McGregor roulette’ with Michael Chandler fight
- ‘Hangman’ says McGregor’s presence on card was a ‘big reason’ he took fight against former Bellator champ
- ‘If someone gets hurt on that main event and you miss that spot, I’d be kicking myself for the rest of my days’
Kiwi lightweight contender Dan Hooker has been around the game long enough to recognise a golden opportunity, and no second thought was required when Michael Chandler‘s name was floated his way late last year.
While others among the upper echelon of the division appeared tepid to the proposition, Hooker (20-9) was eager to further his stock against the marquee signing, and lay out the most inhospitable of welcome mats to three-time Bellator champ Chandler (21-5) at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi on January 23.
And fighting on the same card and in the same division as Conor McGregor – the UFC‘s platinum draw – when the pandemic is wreaking havoc on events may also result in the kind of life-changing moment “The Hangman” couldn’t overlook.
“I‘d be lying if I said that’s not a big reason why I jumped on this fight,” he told SCMP MMA. “If someone gets hurt on that main event and you miss that spot, I’d be kicking myself for the rest of my days.
“This is a game of opportunity. To play the McGregor roulette – I‘d be lying if I said I wasn’t going all in on that. If something happens and that fight opens up, I’d jump on that fight in a heartbeat.”
Hypotheticals aside, the 30-year-old Auckland native realises Chandler still offers the kind of name value and credibility that could help him push his way to the front of the queue.
