ABU DHABI – Michael Chandler feels he’s taking a step up in competition and it’s exactly what he wanted. The former Bellator lightweight champion makes his UFC debut this Saturday in Abu Dhabi when he takes on contender Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC 257. Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) made the jump from Bellator to the UFC in fall of 2020, ending a nine-year career with Bellator. The 34-year-old Chandler has been looking forward to this moment for years and he’s excited it’s finally here. “I’ve been outside of the UFC and every single time I trained for the guys I’ve stepped in the cage with, I wasn’t training to fight them. I was training to fight the No.1 guy in the world, and the No. 1 guy in the world has always been in the UFC banner,” Chandler said.
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