Tag: Michael Chandler

UFC 257 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: Does McGregor’s son do a better Conor autograph than dad?

The UFC returns Saturday night with its first pay-per-view offering of 2021, UFC 257, and the return of the promotion’s biggest star.

The UFC returns Saturday night with its first pay-per-view offering of 2021, UFC 257, and the return of the promotion’s biggest star.

UFC 257 takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+

In the main event, former two-division champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] makes his highly anticipated return after one year off to rematch former interim lightweight champ [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]. And in the co-headliner, former Bellator lightweight champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] finally makes his UFC debut looking to make a strong first impression against [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] in a pivotal fight at 155 pounds.

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The third episode of “Embedded” follows the big-name stars and more. Here’s the UFC’s description from YouTube:

UFC 257 opponents Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler dive into fight week media, with Hooker calling dibs on a pool float prop. Dustin Poirier goes outdoors for a run, and a suited-up Conor McGregor introduces his son to the art of autographs.

Miss an episode? We’ve got them here for you:

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UFC 257: McGregor vs. Poirier 2 press conference live video stream (8 a.m. ET)

Watch as Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor come face to face for the first time ahead of their UFC 257 headlining fight.

For the first time, [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] are set to share the stage and face off during UFC 257 fight week.

On Thursday, a UFC 257 press conference featuring Poirier, McGregor, [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] and UFC president Dana White will take place on “Fight Island,” and you can watch it unfold in the live video stream above. The event is set to kick off at 8 a.m. ET (5 a.m. PT).

The press conference comes three days ahead of UFC 257 on Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The 12-fight card will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHMIUt8L-nc

UFC 257 pre-event facts: Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor bring legendary stats into rematch

The best facts and figures about UFC 257, which features a Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor lightweight main event.

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The UFC closes out its “Fight Island” stint on Saturday with its first numbered event of the year. UFC 257 takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

A highly anticipated rematch takes center stage in the main event. Dustin Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) and Conor McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) will run it back more than six years after their first meeting at UFC 178 in September 2014, which “The Notorious” won by first-round TKO. There’s major differences this time around, though, because it will be contested at 155 pounds instead of 145 and is scheduled for five rounds.

The rematch concludes a notable lineup of fights. For more on the numbers, check below for 65 pre-event facts going into UFC 257.

UFC 257 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: Sara McMann’s in-flight workout

The fighters continue to make their way from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi and do what they can to pass the time.

The UFC returns Saturday night with its first pay-per-view offering of 2021, UFC 257, and the return of the promotion’s biggest star.

UFC 257 takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+

In the main event, former two-division champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] makes his highly anticipated return after one year off to rematch former interim lightweight champ [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]. And in the co-headliner, former Bellator lightweight champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] finally makes his UFC debut looking to make a strong first impression against [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] in a pivotal fight at 155 pounds.

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The second episode of “Embedded” follows the big-name stars and more. Here’s the UFC’s description from YouTube:

UFC 257 fighters Jessica Eye and Michael Chandler take off for Abu Dhabi. Sara McMann does an in-flight workout, while Brad Tavares and Antonio Carlos Junior eye each other across the aisle. Headliner Dustin Poirier celebrates his birthday on camera.

Miss an episode? We’ve got them here for you:

[listicle id=578956]

Forget Khabib’s decision, Michael Chandler wants UFC 257 ‘performance to speak for itself’

Michael Chandler refuses to let Khabib Nurmagomedov’s terms of a potential return enter his mind.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] has laid out his terms. If someone stands out at UFC 257 and puts on an impressive performance, he might return for his 30th fight – another title defense.

Despite having his name on the short list of potential opponents for Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC), [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] won’t allow the UFC lightweight champion’s watchful eye to enter his mind heading into Saturday’s pay-per-view co-headliner against Dan Hooker.

“I mean, a lot of times when you’re focusing on something, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that it ends up not happening,” Chandler told reporters, inclduing MMA Junkie, at a pre-fight news conference on Tuesday. “You focus so much (on), ‘I’ve got to be spectacular. I’ve got to get a knockout. I’ve got to get a submission. Khabib is a wrestler, so maybe he wants a wrestling challenge. Let me go out and wrestle Dan Hooker, so he thinks I’m a good enough wrestler for him to challenge.’ I don’t want to think about that. I want my performance to speak for itself.”

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Chandler, 34, will make his UFC debut Saturday after a decade fighting for Bellator, but he feels free of pressure. Nurmagomedov’s return terms aside, Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) explained there is less weight on his shoulders entering a fight against someone like Hooker (20-9 MMA, 10-5 UFC), which is supposed to be competitive and challenging.

“You’ve followed my career for a long time,” Chandler said. “I had a lot to lose against a lot of guys where I was supposed to beat guys in the first round. There’s a lot more pressure when you’re going out and fighting a guy who you’re supposed to finish in the first round. Doing anything less than finishing him in the first round is a letdown to a lot of people. Whereas now, now I just have got to go and fight the No. 6 guy on the entire planet in my UFC debut on the co-main event of a huge pay-per-view?

“There’s not a lot of pressure in that because I’ve already cemented a great career. I’ve already enjoyed a great career. I want the fight to be able to take care of itself. Spectacular is what I go for every single time.”

UFC 257 takes place Saturday at Etihad Stadium. The main card streams on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

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Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler prediction | UFC 257 co-main breakdown

Check out the MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the UFC 257 co-main event between Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler.

Check out the MMA Junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the UFC 257 co-main event between Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler.

UFC 257 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Conor McGregor and family arrive in style on ‘Fight Island’

Go behind the scenes with the first episode of “Embedded” leading up to UFC 257 headlined by a Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier rematch.

The UFC returns Saturday night with its first pay-per-view offering of 2021, UFC 257, and the return of the promotion’s biggest star.

UFC 257 takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and streams on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

In the main event, former two-division champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] makes his highly anticipated return after one year off to rematch former interim lightweight champ [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]. And in the co-headliner, former Bellator lightweight champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] finally makes his UFC debut looking to make a strong first impression against [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] in a pivotal fight at 155 pounds.

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The first episode of “Embedded” follows the big-name stars and more. Here’s the UFC’s description from YouTube:

Dustin Poirier flies to Abu Dhabi alongside Bruce Buffer, Dana White, and a PAW Patrol good luck charm. Michael Chandler, Matt Frevola, Arman Tsarukyan and Marlon Vera exercise in Vegas. Conor McGregor arrives in style with his family.

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