YAS ISLAND, Abu Dhabi,
Jan. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --
He has arrived! Monster Energy congratulates "Iron" Michael Chandler on his dominant knockout
victory against Dan Hooker in the
Co-Main Event fight at UFC 257 on Saturday night. In the
Lightweight division bout inside Etihad
Arena on Yas Island, Abu
Dhabi, the 34-year-old mixed martial arts icon from High Ridge, Missouri, made his successful
debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotion with a
thundering first-round technical knockout. The fight also earned
Chandler the UFC's 'Performance of the Night' award with a
$50,000 payout.
UFC 257 was contested in the UFC's main home for international
matchups during the coronavirus pandemic, the Fight Island facility
in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates. The highly anticipated event happened amid
enhanced safety protocols to curb the spread of Covid-19, including
stringent pre-fight quarantine and extensive testing for fighters
and personnel. A limited number of spectators were allowed inside
the new state-of-the-art Etihad
Arena with full Covid-19 restrictions in place.
Chandler (22-5) stepped into the Octagon in his first-ever fight
as a UFC athlete. Before signing with the UFC in 2020, Chandler
made history as the first three-time Bellator MMA Champion. For his
UFC debut, Chandler faced 30-year-old knockout artist Hooker
(20-10) from Auckland, New
Zealand. Nicknamed "The Hangman", Hooker came to Fight
Island ranked as the No. 6 UFC Lightweight contender and the
betting odds favorite over Chandler.
The audience was in for a fast and furious Co-Main Event fight.
Right from the start, Chandler brought the pressure and proceeded
to chase Hooker around the Octagon. Hooker evaded Chandler's
strikes, maintaining his distance by incessant calf kicks that only
delayed the inevitable.
The fight escalated when Chandler landed a heavy combo of
straight right to the body and left hook to the head that instantly
dropped Hooker. From there, the former Bellator MMA lightweight
king made short work of the New Zealander. Chandler unloaded a
flurry of right hands from above until referee Herb Dean called a TKO stoppage at 2:30 minutes
into Round 1. Having dismantled his opponent in only 150 seconds,
Chandler backflipped off the cage to celebrate his arrival in the
UFC.
"I spent 12 years outside of this company thinking about this
possibility, thinking about these match-ups, thinking about
fighting the best guys in the world. Now I'm here!" said Chandler
after defeating Hooker at UFC 257.
His first UFC victory earned Chandler the UFC's 'Performance of
the Night' award worth $50,000. It
continues his unparalleled rise as a professional MMA fighter: The
decorated All-American collegiate wrestler made his entry into
professional Bellator MMA in September
2010. Chandler left his mark as the world's first three-time
Bellator Lightweight World Champion and set a new record for most
stoppages in Bellator history at 13. The hard-training Sanford MMA
athlete signed with the UFC in September
2020.
With his UFC debut finally in the books, what's next for
Chandler? It's safe to say that Chandler wants a shot at the UFC
Lightweight Championship title sooner than later. Immediately after
Saturday's victory, he put the rest of the 155-pound class on
notice: "I'm here to capture that UFC gold. We'll sit back, we'll
see what is next."
Thanks to the UFC for showcasing a world-class event despite the
challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic and writing MMA
history this weekend on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.
Download Photos for Editorial Use.
Chandler counts amongst Monster Energy's elite UFC team along
with Jon Jones, Donald Cerrone, Jorge
Masvidal, Chris Weidman,
Daniel Cormier, Tyron Woodley, Dominick
Cruz, Yair Rodriquez, Rose
Namajunas, Tony Ferguson, Joanna
Jędrzejczyk, Maycee Barber,
Paulo Costa, Stipe Miocic, Valentina
Shevchenko, and Jessica-Rose
Clark.
For more on Chandler and Monster Energy's MMA athletes visit
http://www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube,
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
###
About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California,
Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and
alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional,
Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross,
off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or
the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that
believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes
and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life
lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more
about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at
http://www.monsterenergy.com.
Media Contact
Kimberly Paige Dresser, Indie
Agency, Inc., (949) 300-5545, kim.dresser@indiepragency.com
Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
SOURCE Indie Agency, Inc.