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Despite his short time in the promotion, Michael Chandler ranks among the most exciting lightweights in the UFC. A three-time Bellator champion, 'Iron' announced his arrival in the UFC in style last year with a first-round knockout of Dan Hooker at UFC 257.
Although his next two fights didn’t go his way, Michael Chandler managed to keep the fans on the edge of their seats with his never-give-up attitude. His last fight with Justin Gaethje was arguably the most exciting bout of 2021.
Considering the attention the American has garnered in his debut year with the promotion, it becomes imperative to deliberate on his next matchup. With that in mind, here are the top five possible matchups for Chandler going forward.
#5. Michael Chandler vs. either Islam Makhachev or Beneil Dariush
UFC Fight Night 202 this month will see two of the UFC lightweight division's best wrestlers, Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev face each other. With the fight being seen by many as a possible title eliminator, it makes sense to match the loser with the fighter next in line – Michael Chandler.
At UFC 268, Chandler proved his ability as a striker by going blow for blow with Justin Gaethje, who happens to be one of the best strikers in the UFC at present. However, his wrestling skills remain untested so far.
Despite the wrestling-heavy game of both Makhachev and Dariush, Chandler won't be an easy target on the ground. 'Iron' is an NCAA Division I wrestler and, according to his website, has the most wins by submission in Bellator lightweight history.
He nearly pulled off an epic victory against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262. The Brazilian, who holds the record for most wins by submission in UFC history, looked to be in trouble as he struggled to keep Chandler at bay in the first round.
Chandler was inches away from clinching UFC gold when he got 'Do Bronx' in a guillotine choke hold. Unfortunately for the Missouri native, the submission didn't materialize. Oliveira eventually came back from behind to knock 'Iron' out in the second round to earn his maiden UFC title.
#4. Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Known for his unorthodox fighting style, Tony Ferguson has had a rough time in the UFC in the last three years. For someone who once boasted a 12-fight win streak, being winless in his last three fights is a matter of real concern.
On the other hand, Michael Chandler too finds himself in a spot of bother. 'Iron' is 1-2 in his UFC career and needs to win from here to better his chances of another title shot.
With the stakes being high for both fighters, it makes sense for them to face each other in the near future. Although the fight is yet to be signed, a rivalry of sorts has already started brewing between the two fighters.
It began with Tony Ferguson tweeting about a possible fight with Michael Chandler. Things escalated after 'El Cucuy' blamed Chandler for deliberately delaying the fight.
Throwing light on the matter during an interview with Ariel Helwani, 'Iron' said:
"I would love to fight Tony. But we've got to do it on a normal timeframe."
#3. Michael Chandler vs. Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier's recent loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 has opened discussions on his next fight. Quite a few names like Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson have been thrown around already. However, the UFC is yet to confirm a fight for the former interim lightweight champion.
A potential opponent for 'The Diamond' could be Michael Chandler, who seems eager to take on the Louisiana native. Speaking to MMA Fighting recently, 'Iron' expressed his desire to fight Poirier:
"So (Poirier's) always been a name on the list. He’s a guy that I respect. A guy that I admire inside the sport of mixed martial arts. A guy who I would love to compete against.”
It's not the first time Michael Chandler has expressed his desire to fight Dustin Poirier. Back when he signed with the UFC in 2020, Poirier was one of the fighters Chandler wanted to fight. Unfortunately for him, Poirier declined the offer.
However, the former Bellator champion seems hopeful this time around. Time will tell if the fight will materialize or not.
#2. Michael Chandler vs. Nate Diaz
UFC 268 was a testimony to Michael Chandler's endurance and willpower. Of the 219 significant strikes that the fight registered, 'Iron' absorbed 116 of them. He had blood oozing out from different places and even got knocked down once, but still had the will to soldier on.
Given the durability he showed in the fight, it only seems fitting to set Chandler up to fight another individual known for his toughness – Nate Diaz. The Stockton native's rematch against Conor McGregor is arguably one of the most memorable fights in the promotion. He absorbed as many as 164 significant strikes and still stood his ground until the final bell.
During an interview with Ariel Helwani, Chandler himself expressed his desire to fight Diaz at welterweight. Additionally, fighting at 170 lb and not having to cut too much weight would be more comfortable for the 35-year-old veteran.
#1. Michael Chandler vs. Conor McGregor
It goes without saying that a fight featuring Conor McGregor is a money fight. 'Notorious' has been one of the biggest names in the promotion. Despite his recent slump in form, the Irishman continues to be a huge draw for fans.
Following his war with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268, Michael Chandler took to Twitter to call out 'Notorious'. The tweet featured an edited photograph of himself and McGregor with the caption '2022'. Interestingly, McGregor tweeted back stating that he was "down at some stage for sure".
"I'm down at some stage for sure. Great fight the other night Mike, congrats!"
McGregor is currently nursing the injury he sustained at UFC 264. He has already been linked with many fighters, such as Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz, for his comeback bout. However, his recent interest in a fight with Chandler could be enough to entice the UFC into giving it the green light.
