Michael Chandler will make his UFC debut in a co-main event clash against Dan Hooker at UFC 257, the organisation have confirmed.

Chandler signed from Bellator MMA during the summer of 2020 and served as the back-up for the lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October.

He made weight successfully but wasn’t needed as both men also weighed in under the limit. He was expected to fight at some point before the end of the year, with Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier linked as potential opponents.

Dan Hooker will welcome Michael Chandler to the UFC at #UFC257, Jan 23rd, Fight Island.

Main event, as you know, is Dustin vs Conor.

Sweet mother Mary! 🔥

— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) January 3, 2021

It was decided however that the notice was too short for Chandler to make the weight and instead Poirier was matched up with Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 257, while Ferguson fought Charles Oliveira at UFC 256.

Hooker’s last fight was a fight of the year contender back in June, when he fought Poirier in a five-round war but was defeated in a unanimous decision.

Prior to that, Hooker had won three fights in a row including a knockout over James Vick and decisions over Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder.

Chandler was a three time lightweight champion at Bellator and left the company on a two-fight win streak, beating both Sidney Outlaw and Benson Henderson via first round knockout.

It should be a very good fight between the two 155lbers, with both men preferring to stay in striking range and use their hands and kicks but it’s hard to say if Chandler has fought anyone as good as Hooker before.

The Australian has shown a level of durability that not many fighters have in his last two fights, withstanding the power of Poirier and firing back with hard strikes of his own.

Chandler is powerful himself but he has been knocked out three times before, including most recently by Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire. Freire is a natural featherweight, who while powerful, isn’t big. Hooker is a big lightweight who has great hands, a range advantage and excellent, chopping leg kicks.

It should be a true fire fight that fans will love as a final warm-up act before the main event between the ‘Diamond’ and the ‘Notorious’. Winner faces the winner?