Michael Chandler has been vocal about his desire to fight Tony Ferguson next, but he doesn’t know what it does for him.
Chandler is currently on a two-fight losing streak and just 1-2 in the UFC including a KO loss to Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title. With him looking to get back into the win column, Chandler says he wants to face Ferguson as it’s a fun fight for him and the fans. However, the former Bellator champ admits he isn’t sure what a win does for him in the lightweight division.
“Do I think I automatically make myself the No. 1 contender by beating Tony Ferguson or winning my next fight?” Chandler said on ESPN’s “DC & RC” (via MMAJunkie). “I don’t think so under normal circumstances, but these are not normal circumstances.”
Gaethje is set to face Charles Oliveira for the lightweight belt next and after that, the winner of Beneil Dariush vs. Islam Makhachev will be next. However, Chandler believes he can leapfrog a lot of people given his fighting style and the fact he and Oliveira put on a phenomenal fight in 2021. Chandler believes no matter who wins the lightweight title fight, the rematch against either of them would be massive.
“I think everyone wants to see a rematch of myself and Charles Oliveira,” Chandler said. “They want to see – they definitely want to see a rematch, Chapter 2 of the Fight of the Year against myself and Justin Gaethje. So, I’ve kind of put myself in a unique position where I could be one win away, and I get the nod to go out there and win the title by the end of 2022.”
However, Michael Chandler is well-ware that he needs to just win fights to earn another lightweight title fight so he’s just focused on that. He doesn’t care how many fights it will take as he’s confident he will eventually be UFC champion.
“If I gotta fight two more fights, three more fights to get back to the title, that’s what I’m gonna do,” Chandler said. “Either way, everybody’s on notice now. When I step inside the UFC octagon, and I strap on those gloves, and I bite down on that mouthpiece, you’re gonna be on the edge of your seat. You’re gonna buy the pay-per-view, and we’re gonna have a blast.”
