It all started on July 1st. When Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier, the last challenger for the UFC Lightweight belt tweeted, “If arman can’t fight let’s go again @MAKHACHEVMMA“. Throwing a jab at Islam Makhachev, and suggesting a rematch between the two after losing their first title match at UFC 302. To which Islam replied with two tweets saying, “No thanks” followed up by “I need new”, suggesting that he won’t be getting inside the Octagon with Poirier again. And among the feud between the two lightweights, entered the third. Michael ‘Iron’ Chandler took this opportunity and tweeted out at the lightweight champ saying, “I’ve been🎯your ass for 8 years…good, old-fashioned, passionate @MizzouWrestling beats Dagestani sambo every day of the week @MAKHACHEVMMA“
Chandler followed it up with some more tweets directed at the lightweight champ. Islam replied to Michael Chandler saying, “You are unreliable dude, one tweet from your master, and you’ll run away. Champ needs real opponent.” Referring to how Chandler hasn’t fought for a long time to keep himself prepared for an opportunity to score big in his “wait-worthy” fight against Conor McGregor. About 10 days before this series of events, Islam had taken shots at Michael Chandler on social media.
While this kind of banter is an everyday thing in the MMA world it was Michael Chandler’s previous tweet that has got the MMA world talking. The tweet revealed that Michale Chandler was presented with a title opportunity against Makhachev and that he “wouldn’t” take it if McGregor is ready in time for UFC 306. The tweet read, “I’ve been offered @MAKHACHEVMMA in October – but if @TheNotoriousMMA little pinky toe is ready by Sept, let’s do sphere. Biggest sporting event in history of sports!!!! @RiyadhSeason#ufc306“ So what’s the holdup for Michael Chandler? What is it that is holding him back from fighting Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight title?
The McGregor Conundrum
For the last three years, the whole world of MMA has been waiting for Conor McGregor to make a comeback. In what would surely be one of the biggest comeback stories of all time not only in UFC history but in the history of sports, McGregor was slated to headline UFC 303 on June 29 against Michael Chandler, but suffered a pinky-toe injury and the fight was called off. McGregor, now 35 years of age, doesn’t have many fights left in him, and neither does the 38-year-old Michael Chandler. Both fought their last fights against Dustin Poirier. McGregor broke his leg the last time they fought in 2021 while Chandler lost to Poirier in 2022 November and hasn’t fought since then. McGregor’s big return is evident, and it’s safe to assume, Chandler wants a piece of it since it will probably be the biggest bag of money he’ll ever get even if he ends up on the losing side. And so, Michael Chandler has been patiently waiting for that opportunity which might mark his last big fight.
But on the other hand, according to him, he was just given a title shot. So is the McGregor fight worth not having the title shot to himself at a time when there isn’t a strong contender for the title in the Lightweight division? Michael Chandler definitely thinks so. At his age, there are probably 2-3 high-level fights left in him. Going for the title against Islam, who’s taken out a formidable list including Poirier, Oliviera and Volkanovski(twice) seems like a difficult option. Even though it’s a title shot, does Mike really have a shot at the title? On the other hand is Conor McGregor, who guarantees a big earning whichever way the fight ends. While it may not exactly be the “fighter mentality” you often see in the sport, Chandler seems to have decided to wait for McGregor to recover and make his much-awaited comeback. Is it the right choice? Yes for Michael Chandler the man, not for Michael Chandler the fighter.
