Chael Sonnen Advises Michael Chandler on Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

Michael Chandler was set to face Conor McGregor at UFC 303, but the Irishman pulled out due to a broken toe. “Iron” has been away from the octagon for nearly two years now, and he’s been adamant that he’ll face McGregor when he returns.

However, Chandler recently surprised his fans by announcing on X that he had been offered to fight Islam Makhachev at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight champion called him an unreliable opponent but never rejected the offer.

Unlike many fans, Chael Sonnen believes Chandler can actually get a title shot despite being inactive since November 2022. However, he has some crucial advice for the former Bellator lightweight champion…

Chael Sonnen Tells Michael Chandler Not to Miss Islam Makhachev Fight for Conor McGregor

On his official YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” discussed Chandler’s future now that the McGregor fight has been postponed. He reiterated his theory that the Dubliner may never return after his UFC 303 withdrawal.

In Sonnen’s mind, offering Makhachev could be the UFC’s way of indirectly telling Chandler that he will never be able to fight the former two-division champion.

For these reasons, Sonnen believes Chandler should now consider other alternatives. Fighting Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title is certainly an exciting opportunity, and it could be more fruitful than waiting for “The Notorious.”

“If you offer Michael Chandler a fight against Islam Makhachev, you’re giving him a message that he needs to be able to hear,” Sonnen said. “The words: ‘We can’t have you Conor McGregor. We’re not going to have you Conor McGregor.'”

The retired UFC middleweight warned “Iron” not to overestimate his current options. He stressed that fighting Makhachev would not hurt Chandler’s chances of facing McGregor in the future.

“Don’t make that mistake. You have to get the matches you can get when you can get them. You have to win the matches you can win when you can win them. You have to sign the matches you can sign when you can sign them. Before anything else, get the fight and get in the ring.”

Arman Tsarukyan, seemingly the only UFC lightweight with a strong case for a title shot, is out until at least October after being suspended for the punch he threw at a fan during his UFC 300 exit.