Michael Chandler claims he received UFC lightweight title offer against Islam Makhachev amid Conor McGregor’s hiatus

Michael Chandler He claimed he was offered a lightweight title shot against the current champion Islam Makhachev. After his cancelled fight against Conor McGregorChandler remained in limbo.

Although Chandler has already said he has a “new date” for a fight, most have assumed this is a make-up date for McGregor. However, this could very well be his second attempt UFC gold later this year.

But the former Missouri wrestling All-American left another offer on the table for McGregor, who had to withdraw from UFC 303 due to injury.

“I (Islam Makhachev) was offered the sphere in October, but if Conor McGregor’s pinky toe is ready by September, then let’s go,” Chandler wrote on Twitter. “The biggest sporting event in the history of sports!!!”

Chandler was referring to UFC 306, which is scheduled to take place at the Las Vegas Sphere, a venue that president Dana White has said the organization will only do once.

According to the UFC rankings, Chandler is currently ranked No. 6 in the UFC lightweight division at 155 pounds. Title contender Arman Tsarukyan is currently suspended for a minimum of six months due to an altercation with a fan earlier this year.

So, if we follow the step-by-step elimination process, he will be out of the running for Makhachev’s next fight. Former champion Charles Oliveira is coming off a loss to Tsarukyan in April and had already lost to Makhachev in October 2022, for the lightweight belt.

Chandler had already fought Oliveira for the title in May 2021, losing by TKO in the second round. But with the first two logically eliminated, the #3 contender Justin Gaethje has already lost to Oliveira in May 2022, has won two in a row, including the BMF belt, but just lost the latter to Max Holloway by KO in April. Could he be an option? Sure, but he’s coming off a loss, like Chandler, but that’s beside the point.

No. 4 Dustin Poirier is coming off a submission loss to Makhachev in a June 1 title fight, so it’s unlikely the UFC will grant him an immediate rematch. No. 5 Mateusz Gamrot has won three straight, last fighting in March, so he might get a chance next time around.

But that leaves Chandler at No. 6 in the rankings, even though his last fight ended in a submission loss to Poirier two years ago. The promise was a big payday to fight McGregor, but if Chandler is willing to wait until October, he’ll have a shot at the UFC title, which he said was his ultimate goal.

After winning the title in the Bellator promotion, Chandler wanted to be in the UFC to “have a good time, not for a long time.” If the fight is offered as he claims, it could make for a crazy story.

Makhachev tweeted Monday that he needed new targets, so Chandler responded: “I’ve been targeting your ass for 8 years… good old passionate sambo (from Missouri) beats Dagestan sambo every day of the week,” Chandler wrote.