Morning Report: Dana White says he can not remember a better UFC debut than Michael Chandler at UFC 257

Most of the headlines coming from UFC 257 revolve around Dustin Poirier’s upset win over Conor McGregor (just as it should be), but Michael Chandler has done everything in his power to steal the show in the meantime. And while he might not quite make it, Chandler did impress his new boss, Dana White.

The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion signed at the UFC last year and made his promotional debut with great fanfare against Dan Hooker on Saturday. In the fight, a lot was made of the leap in competition between Bellator and the UFC, and even Chandler called Hooker one of his toughest matches in the organization, one he took because Hooker was the only top man who would even agree to him to fight. . But when the cage door closed Saturday, Chandler quickly worked off Hooker and knocked him out halfway through the first round. After that, Chandler jumped on the microphone and cut a promotion on the two main camp fighters and the current lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was an everyday sensational debut and one that caught Dana White’s attention.

“When guys come into the UFC for the first time, they usually have a rough first on the big stage,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “He did not. He came out and it almost looked like Hooker froze in that first round. Chandler was just about him and put on an incredible performance. Listen, man, if you get the platform we had tonight, you make the most of it, and the kid has. Some people did tonight and others did not. ”

So impressive was Chandler’s debut that the MMA community immediately began asking if it was the most impressive one in UFC history, and when White asked the question, he struggled to think of one better.

“That kid fought like he’s been here for years,” White said. “So yeah, from the top of my head, I can not remember a better one.”

Whether this is the best debut ever is a matter of opinion, but Chandler has certainly put himself in conversation with guys like Anderson Silva, Junior dos Santos, Ronda Rousey and Joe Lauzon. However, it was not perfect. At least not for White.

After his victory, Chandler climbed to the top of the cage and made a setback from it, almost missing his landing and tripping over the cage.

It was a celebration White lamented when he discussed Chandler’s debut.

“Do you hate the backflips as much as I hate the backflips?” Ask White unasked. ‘They just fuck – the kid gets a fight in the UFC and then does a backflip that looks like it’s going to blow out both ankles, knees and his spine. I just do not understand the backflip thing and do not like it. Someone will get very hurt if he does this. ‘

Fortunately, Chandler has not injured himself and will now want to build up the momentum of his sensational debut, whether with a title shot or another big fight. Now that he has secured a top-10 victory in the UFC, there will be no shortage of options.

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Results. Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler scored big knockouts at UFC 257.

Bone kick. Conor McGregor’s leg ‘completely dead’, ‘like an American football’ after Dustin Poirier’s kick at UFC 257.

Guarantee. After UFC 257 triumph, Dustin Poirier guarantees ‘I will not fight Michael Chandler’.

Fire meme. Dana White plays UFC 257 live streaming issues and calls the event a ‘very good night’.

Damage joy. Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to Conor McGregor’s knockout loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

Beef. Conor McGregor shoots back at Khabib Nurmagomedov for ‘disrespectful remarks’ made after UFC 257.

Following. Dana White on the future of Conor McGregor after a knockout: ‘There are two ways it goes … hungrier, or I’m done’.

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UFC 257 Post Show.

UFC 257 Press Conference after the fight.

Behind the scenes with Poirier battle.

BJJ Scout drops an outline.

Road to Knucklemania.

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On to the next one. Matchmaking for the UFC to UFC 257.

Erge MMA. Discuss the failure of UFC 257.

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Good scene.

Dustin.

Conor.

Feels like a goodbye.

Nate.

Point.

Tony.

Floyd.

Manny.

Jojo.

Damn. Serious. And goodbye.

Pitbull.

Bobby Knuckles.

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Dustin Jacoby (13-5) vs. Maxim Grishin (31-8-2); UFC Fight Night, February 27th.

Rani Yahya (26-10-1, 1 NC) vs. Ray Rodriguez (16-7); UFC Fight Night, March 13th.

Demetrious Johnson (30-3-1) vs. Adriano Moraes (18-3); ONE Championship, April 7th.

Eddie Alvarez (30-7, 1 NC) vs. Iuri Lapicus (14-1); ONE Championship, April 7th.

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There is no one in MMA who deserves it more than Dustin Poirier. One of the very good guys in the sport, and it was a great win. Shame it was not for the belt.

Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow.

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