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After his recent loss against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, Michael Chandler is at a crossroads. The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion has had an entertaining run in the UFC. However, with two wins and three losses on his record, 'Iron' remains far from title contention.
Since 'Iron' declared that his goal is to win the lightweight title in MMA's premier promotion, his defeats to divisional elites like Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje don't bode well for his future.
Thus far, his wins have been against Dan Hooker, who is currently outside of the top 10, and Tony Ferguson, who is on a five-fight losing streak. At 36, with his struggles against the top five lightweights, the former All-American might struggle to earn another title eliminator.
Yet, he remains a highly entertaining fighter who is beloved by both fans and Dana White. A plethora of fun fights remain for 'Iron', and this list compiles five ideal candidates to be his next opponent.
#5. Rafael dos Anjos, UFC lightweight
Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Chandler are seldom seen in boring fights. The Brazilian is a former lightweight titleholder whose aggressive blend of forward pressure and hard-nosed Muay Thai render him guaranteed entertainment every time he steps inside the octagon.
Additionally, there is history between the two. After 'Iron' signed with the UFC, 'RDA' issued a public challenge to the former NCAA Division I wrestling standout. Unfortunately, the fight never came to fruition. But now, more than ever, a matchup involving the two makes sense.
Ranked as the seventh-best 155'er in the UFC's lightweight hierarchy, 'RDA' is a fitting foe for 'Iron'. Furthermore, his status as a former champion gives the matchup enough prestige that it could easily bolster a PPV in need of recognizable names.
A win over a respected veteran known for entertaining bouts would have a positive impact on Michael Chandler's career. It's a winnable fight that he could use to build towards a title campaign.
#4. Rafael Fiziev, UFC lightweight
As the sixth-best lightweight in the UFC, the Muay Thai aficionado is a force to be reckoned with. The Russian striking specialist is currently on a six-fight win streak, beating the likes of Rafael dos Anjos and Brad Riddell.
Like the Bellator legend, 'Ataman' is known for his entertaining bouts. His fighting style is an eye-catching blend of high-octane offence and consistent pursuit of a knockout. A bout between the two men would be beneficial to both of them. If Michael Chandler wins, it'll help erase the stain from his recent losses.
If Rafael Fiziev wins, it'll catapult him higher up the rankings as a proven fighter. Not only would he become the rising contender to defeat former UFC lightweight champion 'RDA', he would also be credited with defeating a three-time Bellator champion and former UFC title challenger.
It would also help reinforce the UFC's rhetoric that it is the best MMA organization in the world.
#3. Gilbert Burns, UFC welterweight
Since losing to Khamzat Chimaev earlier this year, Gilbert Burns has had no luck in securing another bout. Despite his public challenge, 'Durinho' was unable to convince Colby Covington to consider him for a potential matchup.
There has also been no confirmation that Jorge Masvidal has agreed to face him in Brazil in January next year. While Burns is currently entertaining Neil Magny's callout, a bout against Michael Chandler would be interesting and yield far more entertainment and intrigue.
The Bellator legend's recent attempts at securing a welterweight bout against Conor McGregor showed his willingness to compete at 170lbs in the UFC. Michael Chandler is no stranger to competing at welterweight, and 'Durinho' is yet another former lightweight plying his trade as a 170'er.
Since both men are heavy-handed power punchers and reckless in the extreme, the bout is almost certain to end in a knockout. For Michael Chandler, a potential welterweight loss would be of no consequence to his spot in the lightweight rankings.
#2. Charles Oliveira, UFC lightweight
Charles Oliveira responded to a recent callout from Rafael Fiziev by expressing his desire for some time off. Michael Chandler's loss to Dustin Poirier saw 'Iron' take a tremendous amount of damage that he'll need time to recover from. The return date for the two men could coincide and lead to a highly entertaining rematch.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist recently lost the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. Interestingly, he captured it against Michael Chandler in an action-packed bout at UFC 262.
Now, both 'Iron' and 'do Bronx' are coming off losses and need wins.
A rematch with a built-in history will generate a significant amount of fan interest. Furthermore, Michael Chandler was seconds away from capturing UFC gold against Charles Oliveira. A win in a rematch would give him the chance to prove that and help repair the idea that he's a credible title threat.
Furthermore, a Chandler win sets up a potential trilogy bout with each fighter holding a victory over the other. Alternatively, an Oliveira win solidifies the idea that his victory was no fluke.
#1. Conor McGregor, UFC lightweight
Since the day of his UFC debut, there has been one fighter that Michael Chandler has firmly set his sights on. At the time, former UFC double champion Conor McGregor was hoping to beat 'Iron's future foe, Dustin Poirier.
In the co-main event of the PPV headlined by 'The Notorious' and 'The Diamond' in 2021, 'Iron' flatlined Dan Hooker with a first-round knockout before calling out the Irishman. While Conor McGregor's first loss to Dustin Poirier led to a trilogy bout at UFC 264, interest in a Chandler-McGregor bout remained.
With McGregor supposedly set to return from his brutal leg break [at UFC 264] sometime next year, he'll be in need of an opponent to welcome him back into the octagon. Chandler's all-action fighting style also renders him an extremely desirable matchup for the marauding Irishman.
Chandler himself reissued the challenge to McGregor in his post-fight interview at UFC 281. The two fighters have explosive power and either one could easily knock the other out. Additionally, a win would be beneficial for either man in terms of building them back up into title contention.
