Who is next for Michael Chandler? We breakdown the Top 5 Lightweights
“Iron Mike” Michael Chandler came storming into the UFC as he made a statement against No. 6 ranked lightweight, Dan Hooker. In the co-main event at UFC 257, the former Bellator MMA lightweight champion, Micheal Chandler (22-5) made his UFC debut. UFC 257 was headlined by Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier 2 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Chandler, last fought at Bellator 243 on August 7, 2020, before making the transition to the UFC. He defeated a former UFC lightweight champion and Bellator title contender, Benson Henderson in round one at 2:09 via knockout. The Bellator lightweight’s contract ended and Chandler tested the free agency pool. Now signed with the UFC, he steps into the octagon for the first time in his career and showed Dan Hooker why he is a title contender without a fight in the UFC.
The 34-year-old lightweight showed the effectiveness of his striking with a brilliant strike to the body and coming up to the head with a left that dropped the No. 6-ranked Hooker to the canvas. Once Hooker’s bottom hit the canvas, Chandler pounced on Hooker with a swarm of right hands that were uncontested. The referee leaped in between waving his hands calling an end to the bout. He finished Hooker in 2:30 of the first round.
Who is next for Michael Chandler?
A quality win like earned verse Hooker at UFC 257 will prompt Chandler to immediately get back in the octagon. As the whole world heard, Chandler called everyone out. The question is, who will the UFC President Dana White and the matchmakers give him? Dustin Poirier has to be inline for at least a shot at the interim title, which is currently held by Justin Gaethje.
Possible options:
1-Justin Gaethje
4-Conor McGregor
2-Dustin Poirier
3-Charles Oliveira
5-Tony Ferguson
Champion- Khabib Nurmagomedov
We Can scratch-off Nurmagomedov. He is the current champion but is currently retired. I do believe he is the man to dethrone the Russian grappler. We’ll dive into that reason in another article. Even if Khabib does return to fight, Chandler doesn’t currently have enough UFC stock to capture that title shot. Another impressive showing over a top-five fighter and Chandler could get that title fight.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Dustin Poirier verse Chandler would be an exciting match and definitely will be a title fight we eventually down the road. A victory over the UFC’s biggest star, Conor McGregor will elevate Poirier into a title fight. He’ll either get to fight Khabib again if he comes out of retirement or he will most likely battle Justin Gaethje in a rematch. Poirier finished Gaethje in the fourth round of their fight by way of punches. This is the matchup I personally believe Poirier will have for the interim lightweight title. So we can scratch Dustin Poirier off the list of Michael Chandler’s next opponent. Plus, Justin Gaethje can be also scratched off the list as he will probably defend the title verse, Poirier. But hey, the UFC has done crazier things.
Dustin Poirier
Justin Gaethje
Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira fought each other in December at UFC 256. Oliveira got the better of Ferguson in the three-round matchup with a unanimous decision. Ferguson is currently on a two-fight skid and will probably drop in the UFC rankings as he got finished by Gaethje and then lost via decision to Oliveira. I think Ferguson removed himself from the equation by losing two fights in a row. A fight between him and Dan Hooker would be an excellent match up. Both on losing streaks and an exciting matchup. So we can scratch-off Tony Ferguson as well.
Tony Ferguson
Conor McGregor, we witnessed last night get finished for the first time via TKO. I don’t think he would match up well against Chandler. Chandler is a decorated wrestler with intense power. Coming off a loss, we know McGregor will get a high-profile fight, but I see it being someone like Justin Gaethje that is willing to stand and brawl for the fans. We all heard McGregor recognize the absence from the sport being an issue for him in this fight. We expect him to return to the octagon within four months, but his opponent I do not believe will be Chandler.
Conor McGregor
Charles Oliveira appears to be the best option for Michael Chandler. Oliveira is currently on a hot streak winning eight fights in a row. Oliveira is coming off of finishes over Lentz, Gordon, and Lee. Plus, his unanimous decision of Tony Ferguson. A matchup against Mike Chandler would definitely be for title contentions. The winner of this matchup would have to be the next in line to fight for the lightweight championship belt. Oliveira is known as a submission artist but is a highly technical striker as well. A matchup between two great grapplers and strikes. Chandler has heavy hands and great technical wrestling to keep the fight where he wants it. Oliveira’s biggest advantage will probably be his length and reach. Oliveira stands at 5’10” tall with a reach of 74″, while Chandler is 5’8″ with a 69″ reach.
Either way, this would be an exciting match up between electric fighters capable of competing where ever the geography of the fight may go.
Charles Oliveira is who should be next for Mike Chandler.
