ABU DHABI – Dana White likes what he saw out of [autotag]Michel Chandler[/autotag] at UFC 257. In fact, White thinks it might belong in a class of its own.
A longtime Bellator lightweight champion, Chandler (22-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his long-awaited debut against Dan Hooker in the pay-per-view co-main event and finished the fight with strikes in half a round.
“When guys come into the UFC for the first time, they usually have a rough first time on the big stage,” White told MMA Junkie. “He didn’t. He came out and it almost seemed like Hooker froze in that first round. Chandler was just all over him and put on an incredible performance. Listen, man, when you get the platform we had tonight, you make the most of it, and that kid did. Some people did tonight and some didn’t.”
As he considered all the UFC fights that took place under his watch, since the time he became company president in 2001, White struggled to find a promotional debut that topped Chandler’s.
“Off the top of my head, I can’t remember a better one,” White said.
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The victory marks Chandler’s sixth win in seven fights, with his only loss in that stretch coming to Bellator dual champ Patricio Freire. Chandler now rides a three-fight winning streak.
Chandler, a three-time Bellator lightweight champion who fought for the promotion for a decade and served as one of its faces, made his highly anticipated UFC debut after signing with the promotion last September.
UFC 257 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
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