Islam Makhachev's cheeky remark on potential Michael Chandler vs Conor McGregor fight
Dana White seemingly signed off on the idea of pitting Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler upon his return to the octagon. Afterward, Islam Makhachev has weighed in on the potential fight, firing shots at the two lightweights.
'Iron' continues to deliver each and every time he steps foot into the octagon and expects no difference if he is matched up against the Irishman somewhere down the line. The former Bellator star has showcased his willingness to go out there and entertain the fans, which has been on display during his five UFC fights.
In a post on social media, Islam Makhachev claimed that he "hopes" the rumored bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler comes to fruition. He insists that one of the veterans will "finally" get their hands raised:
"I hope this fight will happen, and one of them will finally win."
I hope this fight will happen, and one of them will finally win 😁 https://t.co/EfHTWjIZzV
Last time out, Islam Makhachev was able to completely outclass the seemingly unbeatable Charles Oliveira and capture his first-ever UFC title, beginning his reign as the new lightweight champion. The 31-year-old completed the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's dream of becoming a UFC champion alongside his lifelong friend and training partner Khabib.
Despite having a division stacked full of killers, including both Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor, Makhachev will put his title on the line for his first defense against Alexander Volkanovski, the pound-for-pound and featherweight king.
The fight is set to take place in Perth, Australia, and will serve as the headline for UFC 284 on February 11th. While there are many top contenders at lightweight, it's hard to deny 'The Great' a chance at making history and entering the exclusive list of two-division champions in the UFC.
Why does Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler make sense next?
Conor McGregor's back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier have knocked him down the pecking order in the sport. He will need a standout win to return himself to title contention.
Despite being great since arriving in the UFC, Michael Chandler's title aspirations may have hit the rocks. While there's arguably still time for him to make a push for gold, a big-money fight could be a better option at this point in his career.
Although they're at different points in their careers, both lightweights will likely force themselves back into a respectable spot and a potential shot at Islam Makhachev with a win in this rumored bout.