When Michael Chandler first signed with the UFC as a free agent, he named several dream opponents, including former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier.
Nearly two years after he joined the promotion, Chandler might finally get his wish.
All signs are pointing toward two of the top 6 lightweights in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings clashing before the end of the year, and while nothing is official yet, Chandler can’t help but get excited about the prospect of testing himself against somebody as proven as Poirier.
” You know there’s going be fireworks,” Chandler said to MMA Fighting. “One thing you can’t say is that Dustin’s ever been in a boring fight, or I’ve ever been in a boring fight, so it’s going to be fireworks whenever it happens.”
The possible matchup came together after Chandler and Poirier had words in the crowd at UFC 276 during International Fight Week back in July.
Despite a video featuring them going viral on social media, Chandler insists he wasn’t seeking any kind of altercation with Poirier but the nature of the situation forced him to react.
“I just heard some shouting, turned around, and realized it was Dustin kind of pointing at me,” Chandler explained. “I could tell he was talking to me. This caught me off guard. It’s not my nature to engage in any sort of verbal, physical or political altercations. That’s not my nature. It’s not something I do. I am a bit of a pacifist in many ways. Except when I get paid to go outside and work for the octagon.
“The security guards were kind of trying to pull us away, but I’m like, ‘I have to go see what he’s saying’ because it was far away, music’s playing, lights are flashing everywhere, you could hear the crowd noise, so I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I got up and approached him, and he began to speak. .”
While Chandler insists that he has no personal animosity or grudge against Poirier but he thinks the root of their rivalry is based on comments made by both men in interviews shortly after his arrival in the UFC.
” I think that it comes back to him saying, “Instead of fighting Chandler. I’d prefer to go sell hot sauce.” “I took that as a slight, obviously, but since then accidentally really in one interview, I forgot to mention his name inside the title picture.
“But that was because at that time he was talking about retirement, he was talking about never making 155 again, he was talking about going up to 170. He had been campaigning for the Diaz fight. He had, in my opinion, already left the lightweight division. I think that’s what kind of set him off or made him not too happy with me, but I’m not really worried about it. I respect him as a fighter. Everybody I have fought I am proud of them.
It was after a loss to Charles Oliveira this past December that Poirier confessed his doubts about continuing at lightweight. He contemplated his future after falling short in two bids to become undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
Whatever doubts there were, Poirier seems to have exorcised them as he has been looking for a fight over the past few months. But Chandler still wonders what’s driving “The Diamond” these days.
” I wake up each morning dreaming about becoming a UFC Champion,” Chandler stated. I’ve only had one chance at it. Dustin has had several attempts at it. Dustin has talked about moving up to 170. I think it’s hard for him to make the weight. He’s spoken about his desire to retire. He’s talked about passion, he’s talked about desire, does he have it any more? He’s talked about fighting Nate Diaz. We all know what going after a fight against Nate Diaz [means]. It begs the question — does he truly believe he’s one of the best in the world anymore?
“I think he’s one of the best in the world but he’s also had a couple Conor [McGregor] fights, he’s got a little bit of money in the bank, he’s getting older, it’s hard for him to make the weight, he’s talked about going up to 170. All these are telltale signs to me that this is the time to fight him, and not the time to fight me. He doesn’t deserve any disrespect. I want to compete against him. I compete against anybody in the top 5 that’s going to get me towards a title shot.”
Regardless of whether Poirier is pumped up for another attempt at the belt, or if he’s looking to the future, Chandler expects that they will be a barn burner when they meet. Chandler chose Poirier because of his fan-favorite style. But he also likes his chances to add another legend to his growing list of accolades.
“I’ve always loved the Dustin Poirier fight, and it’s not because he’s not a great fighter,” Chandler said. It’s not that he isn’t very skilled. I’ve just always watched him from a far and thought he’s good, but I do think I beat him.
“I think I’ve got his number. I think I’m the guy inside of that fire that will continue to put it on him, and he won’t be able to finish me – he won’t be able to put me away. He’ll be matched cardio-for-cardio, strike for strike and wrestling for wrestling. Then it will come down to a fight of wills, and I believe I won that one. I think I truly do.
“He’s a good boxer. Southpaw. Counter-striker I think I can match him punch for punch. I have always performed well against southpaws. I have never been defeated by a southpaw. In fact, every southpaw I have ever fought I’ve defeated. I like fighting southpaws. Power shots all day long.”
All signs point to the anticipated fight happening before the end the year. However, Chandler may choose to finish 2022 with a spectacular show.
” If I could, I would tell you that I prefer December in Vegas,” Chandler stated. “I’ve been signed with the UFC dang near two years, and I haven’t fought in Vegas yet. I want to fight in Vegas. That fight week in Vegas is what I long for.
“Because it’s something I have seen from far, I’ve been to fight week but never actually fought in Vegas for UFC, or any other organization. I want to experience that.”
