During Michael Chandler’s time in Bellator, there was always talk of how he would match up with the biggest stars in the UFC.
We finally got to find out when ‘Iron’ Mike made the switch in 2020, signing to the UFC where he debuted against Dan Hooker at UFC 257.
Chandler’s first assignment after signing to the promotion was to be the backup fighter for UFC 254 where one of the greatest of all time hung up the gloves.
The former Bellator champion was on standby just in case either Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje were unable to make it to their lightweight title unification bout.
Had he been required to step in and face the champion, Chandler was confident that he could’ve really tested ‘The Eagle’ based on previous comments that he had made several years prior.
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Michael Chandler was ‘100%’ confident he could beat Khabib Nurmagomedov after UFC 223
In 2018, Michael Chandler made his one and only appearance on Joe Rogan’s JRE MMA Show having recently produced back-to-back wins in Bellator after losing his lightweight title to Brent Primus.
The previous month had seen a new UFC lightweight champion crowned at UFC 223 after Conor McGregor was stripped of the title due to inactivity.
Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to face Tony Ferguson but following one of the most dramatic fight weeks in the history of the promotion, ‘The Eagle’ ended up being matched with Al Iaquinta on short notice.
Iaquinta wasn’t the promotion’s first choice, and he was unable to win the title having not weighed in under the championship limit, but the underdog did end up posing some interesting questions.
Nurmagomedov remained undefeated against the #11-ranked contender, winning each round, but the performance itself wasn’t the kind of one-sided beatdown that many were expecting.
Iaquinta was able to keep himself in the fight and that’s something that Chandler believed that he could take advantage of, telling Rogan that he was “100%” confident that he’d beat the undefeated champion.
“Some chinks in the armor. It showed what happens when Khabib can’t take you down. I mean, it’s tough when the one thing you’ve always been used to dominating with isn’t working and then you’re stuck throwing punches and he’s a little bit behind in the striking aspect.
“I have a ton of respect for the guy, mauler. At certain times, he looks unbeatable where I’ve looked at it and other people have looked at it and people that have fought him have talked about it.”
Michael Chandler called out Khabib Nurmagomedov after winning his Octagon debut
Following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement at UFC 254, UFC 257 was a big night for the division.
Before Dustin Poirier stopped Conor McGregor in the main event, a new name entered the shuffle at 155 pounds when Michael Chandler stopped Dan Hooker in the first round.
In his post-fight interview, Chandler capped off his arrival by calling out the division’s top names.
“Conor McGregor, surprise surprise, there’s a new king in the lightweight division. Dustin Poirier, your time is coming and Khabib, if you ever do see fit to grace us with your presence back here in the UFC Octagon, in your quest for 30-0, you gotta beat somebody, so beat me if you can.”
Chandler would go on to fight Charles Oliveira for the title that Nurmagomedov vacated at UFC 262 where he was stopped in the second round.