Chael Sonnen believes Michael Chandler is strategically navigating his fight prospects, including potential bouts with Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, while understanding that the UFC’s offer of a title fight with Islam Makhachev fulfills their contractual obligations to him.
Chael Sonnen has a hunch about Michael Chandler.
Over the past few weeks, Chandler’s been quite active on social media. He’s been talking about his previously scheduled bout with McGregor. This fight was set for UFC 303 but got sidelined due to McGregor’s toe injury.
Chandler hinted at a lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev. He also teased the possibility of re-booking the McGregor fight for UFC 306 at Sphere. And, he even called out Nate Diaz after Diaz’s boxing win against Jorge Masvidal.
Sonnen, a master of the mental game in MMA, shared his thoughts on this situation.
“So what is it that Michael Chandler knows? What is it that I think I know Chandler knows, whether we’re both wrong or not?” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “I think he knows… and I think what he sees is the big problem… there’s a chance he gets bumped [from the McGregor fight] for Diaz-McGregor.”
Chandler believes their history—the trilogy, potential conclusion of two iconic careers—could sway things. If both guys agree and even get UFC to say, ‘This is it,’ it’s a massive match.
“So Chandler… could stay after McGregor and make sure his case stays hot,” Sonnen continued. “But he’s well aware that if Diaz starts calling out McGregor and McGregor likes that callout, it could hurt him.”
Recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his first fight with Anderson Silva, Sonnen understands how business works in the company.
When Chandler says he was offered a title fight with Makhachev, Sonnen feels if true, then UFC has upheld their end of the bargain—McGregor fight or not.
“The UFC… as soon as they offered him a world title fight… has now honored that deal,” Sonnen explained. “Do you understand that? … When the deal was ‘We will give you McGregor,’ then offer something higher than McGregor—that deal is satisfied.”
“If I owe you $100 and offer you $1,000… doesn’t matter if you take it or not—I don’t owe you $100 anymore,” he added. “The moment he was offered Islam… my promise to you that you will get [McGregor] is gone.”
Chandler hasn’t fought since getting submitted by Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. Meanwhile, McGregor has been out over three years after suffering a brutal leg injury against Poirier nearly 18 months before that.
Breaking down Chandler’s recent social media antics, Sonnen believes Chandler made some savvy moves—especially with his callout of Diaz.
“Chandler saw himself in a potential battle for Conor’s attention—or Nate having Conor’s attention,” Sonnen said. “To get in front of it… he called out Nate. That was smart.”
“I don’t know if I’ve uncovered it or not,” Sonnen concluded. “But one thing I’m sure of—when Michael Chandler called out Nate Diaz for the Sphere—he was working a different angle and didn’t mean he wants to fight Nate Diaz at Sphere.”