“A good stylistic matchup” – Dan Hooker predicts how Michael Chandler vs Charles Oliveira will go

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3 years ago

Dan Hooker celebrates his victory over Al Iaquinta of the United States fight in their Lightweight bout during UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker gave his prediction for the upcoming lightweight title bout between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.

Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira are set to headline UFC 262, on the 15th of May, as they would be vying for the vacant lightweight belt.

Chandler, the UFC newcomer will be looking forward to grabbing the opportunity with both hands, against the high-flying Brazilian. It would be some achievement for Iron Mike if he manages to pull off a victory here.

Michael Chandler is a three-time Bellator Lightweight champion (Instagram)

Speaking about this in an interview with Submission Radio, Dan Hooker was asked to give his prediction for the Chandler-Oliveira title bout. Hooker was quick to state that the fight would be a good stylistic matchup for the Bellator legend.

The Kiwi also pointed out Chandler’s low stance and centre of gravity which always put him at an advantage against his opponents.

It is to be noted that Chandler faced the ‘Hangman’ on his UFC debut. He won the fight via. knockout in the first round.

Here is what Hooker had to say:

“That’s a good stylistic matchup for Chandler. He is a strong defensive wrestler, he does have good jiu-jitsu, like early on in his career most of his finishes were submissions…He has some pretty sound and pretty strong jiu-jitsu, heavy puncher, low stance, low to the ground. So, stylistically I’m leaning towards Michael in a difficult matchup.”

Hooker was a ‘bad stylistic matchup’ for Chandler

(R-L) Michael Chandler punches Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Going into the fight against Chandler at UFC 257, which marked the American’s UFC debut, Hooker had a lot of advantages. He had a vastly superior reach, he was UFC-tested and had almost got the best of Dustin Poirier in his previous fight.

However, he was no match for the explosive power Chandler brought to the octagon. The Kiwi’s ‘keeping him in check’ due to a superior reach didn’t work, since Chandler kept charging at him throughout the course of the fight.

Unable to match the ferocious speed and power of Iron Mike, Hooker wilted and succumbed to a first-round knockout defeat.