UFC / MMA

Duluth

So Dan Hooker is fighting Michael Chandler on Jan 23rd

Interesting that it took so long to get announced. Hooker was keen to talk about it back in December so the delay appears to come from Chandlers end.
Did Chandler not think Hooker was a big enough name? Or did he not like the match up?

Personally I think the match up isn't great for Chandler. Hooker is tall, has a strong chin and is quite watchful in the first round. I'll pick Chandler to get frustrated and then walk onto a knee

Huge opportunity for Hooker. It'll be the co-main on the McGregor v Poirier PPV. A Connor event means massive ratings.

MiketheSnow

Best of 2020

raznomore

Bellator is not the UFc but there are some animals over there. Chandler was one of them. I don't think he's champion material but he will put on some good fights. Hooker is too long and too battle-hardened now. He's been in wars and just seems to get better. I also think Chandler gets a knee and it's over.

? Offline

I personally thought that Bellator is full of garbage but after watching a couple of shows I can agree with raznomore. There are some wild animals there.

MiketheSnow

Cracking card to start off 2021

Some great finishes, some upsets.

MiketheSnow

You all become pacifists?

The Tinker and Chandler

What you got?

Duluth

@MiketheSnow said in UFC:

You all become pacifists?

The Tinker and Chandler

What you got?

Hard to judge how good Conor is right now. If he still has that accuracy I’ll pick him to finish the fight in the 2nd

Chandler is dangerous. If he doesn’t get a KO early he’ll have to wrestle. I don’t think he can keep up with Hookers stand up for long.
Hooker to end the fight with his knee as the take down attempts get more desperate

Duluth

Fuck

Chandler caught him.

I think that’ll be an excuse for Khabib to have one more fight but deny Conor a rematch

Duluth

Wow Dustin with the KO!

Chopped up the calf and then trapped Conor against the cage. Huge result

raznomore

Thought some of the fights on this card were boring as shit so will just focus on the co main and main.

Hooker looked tentative and didn’t seem to know how to work a mush smaller more compact fighter. Didn’t expect that at all. Chandler looked very sharp and fuck he can work a mic. He’s not totally convinced anyone just yet but he arrived in style. I hope Hooker isn’t done but it’s sounds like Felder thinks he might be. Great respect from Pourier to Hooker as well. Telling Chandler he beat very tough guy.

Calm, respectful Conor is good for anyone especially him. We want heel Conor. I think this is a wake up call to either quit now or give away the playboy shit. He said he’s be back in 2021. I think he’s done.

MiketheSnow

Chandler looked great. Menacing.

Fair play to Dustin. Took some great shots, patient, then BAMMMMMMM.

MajorPom

Hooker got caught. It happens to the best of them. Although his overall UFC record is now looking a bit shabby. Hopefully he's not done.

It was all about the leg kick. Conor was struggling when he got tagged. And if you see in the post-match interview (where Conor was unbelievably respectful) he was struggling to walk. Fair play Poirier.

I really wish Nate Diaz / MacGregor 3 would happen though.

Duluth

@MajorRage said in UFC:

Hopefully he's not done.

Hopefully. I think he still has some big wins in him.

I would not be surprised if he retires though. Before this fight he was mentioning in interviews that he was (harshly) evaluating his lack of progress. Team mates have been in the UFC less time than him and were champions (Volkanovski & Adesanya). So he was trying to work out why

The LW division is crazy too. Look at the monsters competing for Khabibs belt:
Gaethje, Poirier, McGregor, Ferguson, Oliveira and maybe Chandler belongs in that group too. The UFC could have these guys fight amongst themselves for 2 years

When does someone else get a look in?

Hooker will drop a couple of rankings spots and his next opponents are likely to be lower ranked than him.

24 hours ago he was one win away from a possible title shot. Now that seems a long way away if it comes at all

Duluth

Bareman talking about the Hooker fight

raznomore

@Duluth I started writing something last night about Hooker having to go it alone but didn't really know for sure the situation so deleted it. Eugene confirmed it here. They can not commit to being everywhere. They need to work on team strategy and having fighters trust whoever is in their corner. We are probably years from normality if ever and I appreciate Bareman seeing the big picture. Have a great country or win a fight. Great Country every time.

I think Hooker saw his potential life ahead of him. What winning would mean. Went in too cautious and it fucked him. I don't think it's a Benavidez situation where that was his last chance to be the champ etc. I think he needs to go back to look at how tentative he was.

Duluth

@raznomore said in UFC:

I don't think it's a Benavidez situation where that was his last chance to be the champ etc.

I agree. It's just hard to see him in the mix in the next 18months.

Of course if Conor & Ferguson retire soon it makes things easier

Duluth

So Hooker is not retired. He spoke to an Aussie MMA podcast

This clip sums up his thinking:

https://twitter.com/CalebHyatt/status/1356288018253029378

..and here's the full interview

mariner4life

haha that's the realest shit ever!

MiketheSnow

Great card last night

Some top fights and great finishes.

Duluth

@MiketheSnow said in UFC:

Great card last night

Some top fights and great finishes.

It was one of those cards that was better than it looked on paper

Usman is building a hell of a record. I know everyone is talking about rematches for Usman - Jorge, Covington, Edwards (a long time ago). The fight I want to see is against Thompson.

I expect Usman would still win but I think that style makes for an interesting matchup. Other welterweight's aren't as comfortable fighting at range.. it's a slightly different test. Also he's the highest ranked WW that he hasn't fought

The Silver Fern

UFC / MMA