Dan Hooker sees a matchup with Michael Chandler as a perfect opportunity to get back into the lightweight title picture.
Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, didn’t only sign with the UFC, but he was also immediately pegged as a backup for the lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje at next month’s UFC 254.
And with the UFC holding Chandler in such high regard, he now has Hooker’s attention.
“Well, it was hard when people were speculating it and saying about the fight; it’s hard to know how much stock the UFC is putting into someone that’s coming from another organization,” Hooker told “Submission Radio.” “But for him to now be signed to the organization and being the fill-in for the title shot, now I know. Now I’m certain of how much stock (they’re putting in).
“The UFC is putting a lot of stock in on this kid. So, I would love to be the guy to welcomes him to the UFC, knees his chin off, sends him back to the B leagues.”
While Hooker (20-9 MMA, 10-5 UFC) acknowledges Chandler’s skillset, he thinks there are levels to the game that the former Bellator champ hasn’t experienced just yet. Hooker is currently ranked in the top five of the UFC’s lightweight division and has won seven of his past nine.
“He’s good, he’s game, he’s a quality fighter,” Hooker said. “That’s not any knock on his skill or any knock on his ability, but I feel like we’re just a different caliber. He’s just going to be welcomed to a different caliber of fighter.”
The original backup plan for the UFC 254 main event was to have Tony Ferguson fight Dustin Poirier. But after Poirier didn’t come to terms with the UFC, the promotion opted to place the newly signed Chandler as a reserve.
Hooker says he wasn’t contacted to potentially face Ferguson but would have definitely taken the call. Now, he says he’s also open to facing Chandler at UFC 254.
“One hundred percent I would have taken that opportunity,” Hooker said. “Yeah, it’s short. Yeah, it’s this, yeah it’s that. I would have 100 percent jumped on a plane and welcomed that opportunity with open arms. But obviously … well, the UFC wants to inject some new blood into the division, and that’s not something that I’m opposed to.
“So, yeah, just let me welcome the kid. You want to bring him over? I’m a top-five fighter, and I’m putting my hand up to say that I’m going to give him an opportunity and I’m going to welcome him to the UFC.”