Dan Hooker will welcome former Bellator MMA Lightweight champion, Michael Chandler, to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon when the two men collide in the co-main event of UFC 257 on Jan. 23, 2021 on “Fight Island.”

Watch Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker full fight video to see the lightweight contenders throw down in one of the best fights of 2020. Poirier and Hooker were matched up in the main event of UFC. Michael Chandler put the UFC lightweight division on notice with a first-round TKO win over Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC 257 from Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on.

For Hooker, passing on the chance to upset a man who is likely already in title contention was something he was not willing to do since it would allow him the opportunity to sneak himself back into the championship mix.

And he is more than happy to break the promotion’s “new toy” while he’s at it.

UFC 257 results: Full fight coverage of the Lightweight pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event tonight (Sat., Jan 23, 2021) between Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler from inside Ethiad Arena on 'Fight. Hooker ready to stop UFC newcomer, earn title shot. 2M; Jake Michaels; Sources: Chandler-Hooker is all set for UFC 257. 2M; Brett Okamoto; UFC fighters, entertainers react to Dustin Poirier's wild.

“The danger lies in getting to the top five. If you were to put him against anyone else who’s come up in the UFC, like top-50, then a top-30, then a top-20, then a top-15 then his chances of losing skyrocket exponentially. So the quicker they can get him to a title, the quicker they could market and sell him,” said Hooker during a recent interview with MMA Fighting.

“So to me, you’re gonna give me the new toy? I’m gonna break the new toy real quick. They invested a whole lot of money to get this guy out of his contract and get him over to the UFC and they’re gonna throw him in with me who’s like a bad stylistic matchup and I’m gonna break the toy in five minutes. I can’t say I feel sorry for them (laughs).”

Hooker is 3-1 in his last four fights inside the Octagon and was last seen losing to Dustin Poirier in a “Fight of the Year” candidate this past June. Currently ranked No. 6 on UFC official rankings, “The Hangman” could upset the balance of the division while inserting himself in the title picture.

Tj Hooker Ufc

Chandler, meanwhile, is coming in with two straight wins, winning five of his last six fights for Bellator before jumping ship. Anyone think he’ll be in for a rude awakening against Hooker?