Michael Chandler was scheduled to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 but the Irishman pulled out due to a broken toe. “Iron” has been away from the Octagon for almost two years and is adamant that he will face McGregor on his return.
However, Chandler surprised fans recently when he announced on X that he had received an offer to face Islam Makhachev at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight champion called him an unreliable opponent but did not deny the allegations about the offer.
Unlike many fans, Chael Sonnen believes Chandler can actually compete for a title shot, despite not fighting since November 2022. However, he has some important advice for the former Bellator lightweight champion…
Chael Sonnen tells Michael Chandler not to miss Islam Makhachev fight for Conor McGregor
Taking to his official YouTube channel, 'The American Gangster' spoke about Chandler's future now that the McGregor fight has been postponed, and he reiterated his belief that the Dublin native may never return after withdrawing from UFC 303.
In Sonnen's view, offering him the fight with Makhachev may be UFC's way of indirectly telling Chandler he'll never get the chance to fight the former two-division champion.
For these reasons, Sonnen believes Chandler should now consider alternative options: Fighting Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title would certainly be an exciting opportunity, and one that might prove more fruitful than waiting around for “The Notorious.”
“If you offer Michael Chandler a fight against Islam Makhachev, there's a message that has to get through to him. He has to hear it,” Sonnen said. “It's, 'You can't get Conor McGregor. You're not going to get Conor McGregor.'
The retired UFC middleweight fighter warned “Iron” not to overestimate his current options, pointing out that fighting Makhachev doesn't diminish Chandler's chances of fighting McGregor in the future.
“Don't make that mistake. Fight when you can. Win when you can. Sign when you can. First and foremost, go out there and get in the ring.”
Arman Tsarukyan, the only UFC lightweight boxer considered to have a solid case for a title fight, is out until at least October after serving a suspension for punching a fan while leaving UFC 300.
