NEW YORK – Michael Chandler understands the booking.
The No. 1 and No. 3 pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC are lined up to square off in early 2023, with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski expected to get a shot at lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s title.
Selfishly speaking, though, Chandler (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) admits he disagrees with the matchmaking decision, should it be finalized.
“I think if there’s a guy out there who deserves to move up, I think it is Alex Volkanovski,” Chandler said during UFC 281 media day. “Obviously the selfish part of me says, ‘I don’t want that to happen.’ I understand how it makes a ton of sense from a promoter’s standpoint, from the UFC’s standpoint. You’ve got the No. 1 pound-for-pound guy in the world vs. the No. 3 pound-for-pound guy in the world. But I also think Islam has proven himself to be our champion. He is our champion, and we have to accept that.
“I think he’s a phenomenal talent. I also think he needs to have his first title defense against a lightweight. He needs to get through another lightweight before we start talking about superfights. I don’t say that to say the UFC is making a bad decision or a wrong decision if they make that decision to let Volkanovski move up.”
On Saturday, Chandler takes on Dustin Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) at Madison Square Garden. The bout between two perennial lightweight contenders may not solidify the next immediate title challenger, but Chandler thinks it will line him up for the following crack at gold or another big fight opportunity.
“I think when I handle business on Saturday night, it’ll be undeniable that they’re going to want to see good old fashioned passion in American wrestling vs. Dagestani sambo, Dagestani grappling,” Chandler said. “That’s what I hope we get to see.”
“… It’s my fifth fight in the UFC. Things have calmed down a little bit. I’m seeing things more clearly, as well. This is a phenomenal opportunity. I think this puts me in line for the title or another huge fight by knocking out Dustin.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.
