Michael Chandler revealed he was offered a title fight against Islam Makhachev in October but is still considering waiting for a potential bout with Conor McGregor, despite UFC legend Matt Brown urging him to take the title shot.
Michael Chandler has been waiting nearly two years for a fight against Conor McGregor. Late Monday night, he dropped a bombshell no one saw coming.
“I’ve been offered Islam Makhachev in October,” Chandler claimed on Twitter. “But if Conor McGregor’s little pinky toe is ready by September, let’s do Sphere. Biggest sporting event in history of sports.”
The UFC hasn’t addressed Chandler’s declaration about the fight offer. October is the proposed date in Abu Dhabi when Makhachev is next expected to compete.
All signs pointed to Arman Tsarukyan getting that title opportunity. Now, perhaps Chandler is going to jump the line—if he forgoes the fight against McGregor.
After Chandler continued tweeting about Makhachev, the lightweight champion seemingly dismissed his would-be challenger. He called Chandler “unreliable.”
For what it’s worth, UFC legend Matt Brown says Chandler would be crazy not to take the title shot if it becomes available.
“Why you wouldn’t jump on that, take it right now, sign the dotted line today, makes zero sense to me,” Brown said on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I can’t think of any reason not to do it."
“Assuming Conor does come back—let’s just assume he is going to come back—do you think he wouldn’t love to fight you for the title?” Brown continued. “You could absolutely set that fight for the title."
Brown has long doubted that McGregor ever fights again. Even with McGregor plotting a comeback from a broken pinky toe that forced him out of UFC 303 this past weekend, there’s no exact timeline when he might actually compete.
UFC CEO Dana White has been adamant about not discussing another date for McGregor’s next fight until he’s fully healthy again.
McGregor remains the biggest draw in the sport and could sell a ton of tickets and pay-per-views fighting anybody upon his return after three years away. As for Chandler, he’s been waiting for a chance to face McGregor and earn that hefty payday.
A lightweight championship opportunity could be even bigger in some regards. “Michael Chandler needed Conor,” Brown said. “Now he’s got a title shot."
“Now he doesn’t need Conor," Brown emphasized. "Get the fcking title shot. Fck Conor."
“Take the fight," Brown insisted. "Let’s say worst-case scenario: Islam destroys you in one round—you think Conor still won’t want to fight you?”
“You’re already coming off a loss," Brown noted. "Conor wants a tune-up fight—I would never call Chandler a tune-up—but that’s what Conor’s thinking.”
Chandler’s emphatic message addressed to McGregor might be his last attempt to force McGregor into deciding on a return date, which remains unknown.
Even if McGregor announces he’s ready by September, Brown doesn’t see how Chandler can pass up on a title shot that would almost certainly elude him otherwise.
“The only thing I can think is maybe Michael Chandler is kind of just putting it out there hoping to bait Conor in real quick,” Brown explained.
“This sport moves too quick," Brown added. "He’s just got to take it.”
“What if Conor does say ‘I’m good for September’ and [Chandler] turns down the Islam fight?” pondered Brown.
“If [Chandler] beats Conor real quick and easy,” continued Brown, “Islam may have moved on by then.”
Beating Conor isn’t necessarily going to get you a title shot next time around either way.
Considering how Chandler posed the question on social media makes it appear he’s still contemplating whether to fight Makhachev or wait for McGregor’s response.
Brown truly hopes that’s not the case; he believes Chandler is just getting one last jab at McGregor before announcing he’s fighting Makhachev in October with the UFC lightweight title on the line.
“I’m betting [Chandler]’s already made up his mind and he’s doing [the] Islam [fight],” said Brown.
“You got what you wanted this whole time—a championship fight,” concluded Brown.
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