Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson Added To UFC 274
A lightweight bout between top-10 ranked contenders Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson is the latest addition to the UFC 274 pay-per-view.
After months of speculation about the fight, Sports Illustrated reported on Wednesday that Chandler vs. Ferguson will take place at UFC 274, which is set for May 7 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The main event of UFC 274 is UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje, so with the addition of Chandler vs. Ferguson, four of the top-10 lightweights on the UFC roster will fight on this card. It’s worth noting that this fight is scheduled for three rounds.
Chandler (22-7) is the No. 5 ranked lightweight in the UFC. The 35-year-old American is 1-2 since joining the UFC, but you have to look at who he’s fought, as he defeated Dan Hooker before losing to Oliveira and Gaethje, and there’s no shame in that. Should Chandler go out there and defeat Ferguson at UFC 274, it could put him back into a position to fight for the belt again by the end of this year or sometime in 2023.
Chandler recently spoke about Ferguson, suggesting that he’s a more difficult fight than UFC superstar Conor McGregor: “I think Tony might be a tougher puzzle to solve just because inside, he’s less predictable. Not that Conor is predictable – he’s a phenomenal athlete. But what you see with Conor is a lot of times what you get, and it’s a hard puzzle to solve, but once (you do) it’s much more predictable. I think Tony just brings that little bit of uncertainty at all times. Plus, his cardio never slows down.
Ferguson (25-6) is the No. 7 ranked lightweight in the UFC. Now 38 years old, Ferguson is coming off of three straight losses to Beneil Dariush and to the aforementioned Oliveira and Gaethje. At one point in time, Ferguson was one of the most elite lightweights in the sport, but he has really struggled lately. With three straight losses coming into this fight, it goes without saying Ferguson absolutely has to win this fight.
Who do you think wins this Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson fight at UFC 274?
