Conor McGregor had some words of advice for the fighters in the UFC 257 co-main event. McGregor will fight in the event's main event. Photo / Getty Images.
Conor McGregor had some words of advice for the fighters in the UFC 257 co-main event. McGregor will fight in the event's main event. Photo / Getty Images.
When the octagon door closes and the spotlight shines on Dan Hooker at UFC 257 on Sunday, it will present an opportunity like none he has had in his UFC career to date.
The No 6-ranked lightweight will meet highly touted new signing Michael Chandler in the co-main event onFight Island in Abu Dhabi, putting his place in the division on the line for a shot at something greater.
In the main event, Irish superstar Conor McGregor will take on No 2-ranked Dustin Poirier in a rematch of their 2014 bout, while reigning division champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is expected to be cage side.
It's no secret that McGregor pulls an audience, and he offered a piece of advice to both Hooker and Chandler at the press conference ahead of the event.
"They are potential future opponents and I'm excited about that. That's what halted me in 2020; nothing really presented itself," McGregor said.
"I'm very excited to see how the bout goes in the co-main event; I know the two men know the magnitude of where they are at. That's going to be an excitement-filled fight. There's going to be a lot of power thrown.
"I would tell the two gentlemen if there's any stalling, they should be separating and let the shots fly because there's a lot at stake here and I wish both men the best of luck."
Dan Hooker will fight Michael Chandler in the UFC 257 co-main event. Photo / Getty Images
While the press conference was unsurprisingly dominated by questions directed towards McGregor, Hooker took his limited opportunities to show he can entertain at a media opportunity as well as in the cage; an asset that could work in his favour down the road.
Hooker was the UFC's third choice of opponent for Chandler's debut fight with the promotion. Chandler said earlier in the week that the UFC wanted to put him in against a top five-level opponent straight away, and UFC president Dana White suggested in December they were working on that opponent being former interim champion Justin Gaethje.
When that didn't happen, White confirmed they had offered the fight to No 3-ranked Charles Oliveira, who turned the fight down as he fought in December and did not want to cut the weight on short notice.
"The only reason I'm here is because everyone ahead of me turned the fight down," Hooker said.
"They've been coming up with a bunch of excuses. Ol' Charlie Olives (Oliveira) saying he can't make the weight ... I've got broomsticks thicker than that boy."
A wrestler by trade, Chandler shapes up as a favourable stylistic match-up for Hooker. However, the American packs plenty of power and has developed a forward pressure striking attack which has seen him score knockout wins in his last two fights.
Hooker said he was expected a characteristically fast start from Chandler and was excited for the challenge, knowing an impressive win would put him one step closer to a title shot and could potentially set up to a future date with McGregor.
"I bet if (Chandler) could have picked anyone, it wouldn't have been me," Hooker said. "I'm a long, tall guy and my game is built around defending wrestlers.
"I'm expecting by the end of that first five minutes we're going to know how this thing's going to play out. I'm expecting him to come at me and I'm expecting a fast start, but I'm not one to back down to a challenge."
Sunday January 24 - Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Full event begins at 12:30pm. Main card starts at 4pm (NZT).
How to watch
Catch the preliminary bouts live on ESPN on Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now, with the $34.95 pay-per-view main card on Sky Arena and Sky Sport Now from 4pm.
