MMA fans had to wait a long time to see three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler make his bow in the UFC. But, there was certainly no disappointment. The 34-year-old impressed everyone watching in his first appereance in the octagon, as he brutally knocked out Dan Hooker in the first round at UFC 257.
The performance saw him awarded the Performance of the Night award, and Dana White himself was left reeling from the showing. He claimed that it was up there with one of the finest debuts that he has ever seen in the UFC, but this could just be the start for the former Bellator champion, as there are no shortage of huge matches that can be made including Chandler.
UFC News: High Profile Main Event Next
Chandler was involved in the co-main event against Hooker, but there is no doubting that his next fight will likely see his name at the top of the card. There is no shortage of talent in the division, which means that there could be a wide pool of fighters to select from when deciding who he will square off against next time he steps foot in the octagon.
One fighter that could be towards the front of that particularly queue could be Dustin Poirier. Poirier picked up the biggest win of his career against Conor McGregor in the main event, as he knocked out the Irishman. That win largely overshadowed Chandler’s debut, but it would be compelling to see the two of them square off next.
UFC News: Title Opportunity
Chandler has been no stranger to picking up gold throughout his career, and that history means that he is already towards the front of the queue for a title opportunity. How Charles Oliveira fits into the stacked decision could be pivotal in deciding the fight that Chandler takes next. Justin Gaethje could also be among the stars that could be on the agenda, as he would be the perfect opponent to determine how deserving Chandler is for a title opportunity.
Gaethje could be looking for an opponent himself to lay down his title credentials. Other fighters are also in the same position, with Tony Ferguson and McGregor both looking to re-affirm their position at the top of the division. McGregor would particularly be an opponent that Chandler would pick out, as he called the Irishman out after his knockout win.
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