Michael Chandler believes Justin Gaethje will be too much for the lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, to handle. Following his decision loss to Gaethje in a three-round thriller at UFC 268, Chandler told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he not only sees Gaethje as the #1 contender in the division, but a clear favorite to take out the champ.
“I think Justin Gaethje is the clear-cut No. 1 contender. He just beat me. [Islam] Makhachev, obviously the way he dispatched Dan Hooker was absolutely phenomenal. What he did was great.
Chandler Predicts that Gaethje Will “Break” Charles Oliveira
Does it warrant a title shot? Not compared to what Justin Gaethje has done, that’s my thought. I think Justin Gaethje breaks Charles Oliveira.
But the more likely scenario is Poirier wins that fight [Poirier vs Oliveira at UFC 269] because I think he has more tools and he’s just better in certain areas and he’s not going to get submitted by Oliveira, even though we have seen an increased striking level by Oliveira, as we saw in our fight.
But I think Justin Gaethje cleans up a couple of things, remembers how he lost to Dustin Poirier a couple of years ago, and I think he wins the title, middle of next year.”
It’s a huge claim from Chandler, who is currently riding a two-fight losing streak. He lost to Charles Oliveira at the start of the year in a lightweight title decider, and to Gaethje when the pair opened up the main card at UFC 269 a few weeks back.
Chandler could have made another run at the belt had he won, and was asked if he could have been more strategic in his approach.
“Granted, was it the smartest way and the easiest path to victory to go win a fight against Justin Gaethje at Madison Square Garden, which really should have had title implications?
Probably not, but I also can’t control myself sometimes. I’m here to entertain. I loved competing, I love fighting for the UFC, I love what the last 13 months has been about, and this was definitely a culmination.
Fighting for the title a couple of months ago was great, but this was different. It felt historic, it felt like fight week we were leading up to a historic card as I’m signing the posters and as we’re going through everything and then it all culminated in a possible Fight of the Year candidate.”
Do you agree with Michael Chandler? Let us know in the comments.
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