Michael Chandler was expected to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 but the Irishman pulled out due to a broken toe. "Iron" has been out of the Octagon for almost two years now, and he has mostly been adamant about fighting McGregor in his return.
However, Chandler recently surprised fans by announcing on X that he's been offered to fight Islam Makhachev at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight champion called him an unreliable opponent but never rejected the claim about the offer.
Unlike many fans, Chael Sonnen believes that Chandler can actually get a title shot despite being out of action since November 2022. He has crucial advice for the former Bellator lightweight champion, though...
On his official YouTube channel, "The American Gangster" discussed Chandler's future now that the McGregor fight has been postponed. He reiterated his theory that the Dubliner might not ever return after pulling out of UFC 303.
In the mind of Sonnen, offering Makhachev could be the UFC's way to indirectly tell Chandler that he won't ever get to fight the former two-division champion.
On these grounds, Sonnen thinks Chandler should now consider alternatives. Fighting Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title is certainly an exciting opportunity, and it could be more fruitful than waiting for "The Notorious."
If Michael Chandler is offered Islam Makhachev, there is a message being delivered to him, that he has got to be able to hear," Sonnen said. "The words, 'We cannot get you Conor McGregor. We are not going to get you Conor McGregor.'
The retired UFC middleweight warned "Iron" not to overestimate his current options. He pointed out that fighting Makhachev won't decrease Chandler's chances of fighting McGregor in the future.
Don't make that mistake. You've got to get the matches you can get when you can get them. You've got to win the matches you can win when you can win them. You've got to sign the matches you can sign when you can sign them. In front of everything else, get the fight and get it into the ring.
Arman Tsarukyan, seemingly the only UFC lightweight with a solid case for a title shot, is out until October at least after being handed a suspension for the punch he threw at a fan during his UFC 300 walkout.
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