Like it or not, current champion Islam Makhachev does take umbrage with lightweight Michael Chandler’s quick rise in the UFC. Chandler has always been keen on pulling off an American vs. Dagestani wrestling matchup. The duo have had their fair share of call-ups as well. But Makhachev does not like how the latter got his title shot and quick infamy.
Upon signing with the UFC, Bellator brand face Michael Chandler needed just one win over Dan Hooker in January 2021. Soon, he got his UFC 155-pound title shot in his sophomore outing. About four months later, he fought Charles Oliveira but fell short in a KO loss at UFC 262. Islam Makhachev recently detailed why such decisions upset him.
It’s so hard, big way, …10-fight win streak. That’s why before belt, I told everybody now I think I have key for the title shot…Maybe before I didn’t speak English, I don’t promote, …For Khabib, also. We don’t have some easy way. Somebody can jump from like – like Michael Chandler, he jump from Bellator, one fight…it makes me upset you know when somebody jump and fight for belt before me.
Islam Makhachev on “MIGHTY” Podcast (@Mighty15x)
Unlike Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC), the Dagestani put on a 10-fight winning streak before title gold consideration. Islam Makhachev does admit that his marketability and language barrier might have been the reason for so. He said that even Khabib Nurmagomedov had to climb the pecking order the same way.
The climb did pay off though as Makhachev is now UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. He has made a 14-fight winning streak at the 155 mark; the divisional record. The champion will look to notch a fourth defense of the gold against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. Subsequently, Makhachev is not the only one holding this opinion.
Michael Chandler’s inclusion in UFC lightweight rankings upsets Grant Dawson
There is no denying Michael Chandler is an entertaining brawler. But many take umbrage with him rising too soon to the top; one that saw him matching up to consensus PPV king Conor McGregor. If that unsuccessful billing were to happen, Chandler would be part of a mammoth $20 million+ projected live gate income and huge sweepstakes in under 10 fights.
Other UFC lightweights also take umbrage with Michael Chandler (Source: X)“Iron” lost his rematch against Oliveira at UFC 309 recently. Yet, with a mixed bag of wins and losses, Michael Chandler finds himself in the lightweight rankings. This bothers UFC lightweight peer Grant Dawson to no end.
I definitely think there are people that do not belong in the top 15, let alone the top 10, …If you look at someone like Michael Chandler, he’s 2-4 in the UFC. So you put his record up against my record. I’m 11-1 in the UFC, assuming I beat Diego Ferreira, 11-1…And you say, ‘Yeah, the 11-1 guy not ranked. The 2-4 guy ranked in the top 10, top seven.’ It doesn’t make any sense.
Grant Dawson to Inside Fighting’s Mike Owens (@inside.fighting)
Dawson (22-2-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) is currently unranked at 155 pounds with just one loss in 12 octagon appearances. His first UFC loss was a 33-second KO from King Green in his first October 2023 headliner spot. Putting in the effort, he doesn’t see Chandler worthy of the standings.
It’s something even old rival Eddie Alvarez points to. Alvarez went to war twice with the fighter in Bellator title fights. The duo produced one of the most fiery scrambles in promotional/MMA lightweight history. So, he knows how good Chandler is and him focusing on entertainment in the UFC frustrates him. As such, naturally it would frustrate Dawson, who wants a crack at Makhachev’s gold someday.
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