“Hey Michael Chandler, it’s time to defend your place in the rankings! Lowest fighting IQ in the division against the new generation of MMA. I don’t want to see you at the top,” the Russian fighter wrote on the social network.
“Not long ago you lost to number 7 and now you’re number 8 – how do you deserve to fight number 5?” one fan asked.
“There was no such thing. As far as I know, I am going for a series of seven wins,” Tsarukyan replied.
Arman Tsarukyan, 26, got his career back on track in December with a unanimous decision win over Damir Ismagulov. Prior to this, the Russian lost in a close fight to Mateus Gamrot by unanimous decision, interrupting his own series of five victories.
Michael Chandler, 36, last fought last November, losing by rear naked choke in the third round to Dustin Poirier. Six months earlier, the American closed a two-loss streak by knocking out Tony Ferguson in the second round.