Michael Chandler inspiring Derry MMA star but it's 'nothing to do with fighting'

Paul Hughes has picked Michael Chandler as his ideal role model after watching the humility of the American UFC star shine through during training camps.

Chandler is preparing for the biggest fight of his career on June 29 when he faces comeback king Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.

It is the headline fight on a stacked UFC 303 card at the T-Mobile Arena, as Irish superstar McGregor ends his long exile from the sport.

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Derry fighter Hughes recently signed up with the Professional Fighters League, and is set to make his Bellator debut in Dublin on June 22. He faces Bobby King in a Lightweight bout at the 3Arena.

The Lavey native was a world champion with Cage Warriors, and has become an inspirational figure for young MMA stars coming through the ranks.

But who inspires Hughes?

"One name comes to mind is Michael Chandler," Hughes told Belfast Live.

"I was just talking about him in another interview. He is someone I have trained with when I am in Kill Cliff. He is obviously fighting Conor McGregor soon.

"The reason I pick him is nothing to do with fighting, it is because of how nice of a guy he is. And people like that inspire me, because that's what I want to be. I want people saying 'he's not a bad lad'. You can have all the success, but treat people the right way.

"Those are the types of people I look up to the most. You can be the best and also be a nice person. There is a life to live, and a lot of hours outside of fighting."

The bookmakers can't separate Chandler and McGregor for their fight, with Paddy Power offering odds of 9/10 on both men.

Hughes believes the contest is too close to call, and thinks both men have solid claims to be favourite.

He added: "It is a hard one. I think if Chandler can implement his wrestling he has a good chance. He did it against Dustin Poirier and won two of the rounds before getting stopped in the third.

"But if Conor can keep it on the feet I think it will probably go his way. I can't see Conor returning to the level he was when he was champ-champ, I just think that's a natural thing because he is older.

"He was in his prime then, but he can improve in other ways for this fight."

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