Bad times don’t last, but ‘Bad Guys’ do. Now that he is done with his boxing stint, Chael Sonnen is back to playing matchmaker at breakfast. More to it, ‘Bad Guy’ has always played more of an instigator or an issue than a hype man. As such, he now thinks Islam Makhachev vs. Michael Chandler might just happen after a long delay in fighting Conor McGregor.
This comes in light of Michael Chandler saying there are active talks about a lightweight title shot for Makhachev’s gold. ‘Iron’ has not fought since his UFC 281 loss. Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev tops the pound-for-pound ballot appearance. He last bagged a fifth-round submission victory at UFC 302. Islam Makhachev does not consider him a potential title challenger, but Sonnen disagrees.
Michael Chandler is claiming he has an offer on the table, right now…that makes a lot of sense. He hadn’t fought in a while…he’s coming off a loss…via stoppage. All true…it’s not as though it’s unprecedented…I just described…Well, Stipe Miocic!
Chael Sonnen via his Official YouTube channel (@ChaelSonnenOfficial)
The Dagestani’s main rebuttal stands on the foundations of Conor McGregor. Chandler was set to face him in the past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view headliner. He believed one called, and Chandler would run back for that money fight. Whereas Chael Sonnen brazenly invokes the allure of Stipe Miocic. His last fight also was a stoppage skid at UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2. Where is Miocic these days?
Miocic (20-4) returned to the mound to throw the first pitch for Cleveland Guardians, topping off the Chicago White Sox by 7-6. Yet, the soon-to-be 42 is returning as title challenger for Jon Jones. Out of the game for three years, four months, and counting, Moicic is the perfect story for Michael Chandler to claim the title shot. Consequently, Sonnen has lauded the callouts before as well.
Chael Sonnen once commended Michael Chandler for the daring callout to Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev is dreaming of double-division glory. ‘Mac’ was to return in a welterweight headliner atop UFC 303’s pay-per-view card. Top standout Charles Oliveira is thinking of a welterweight move-up as well. Arman Tsarukyan is on an NAC-imposed suspension. Top crops like Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Chandler, Mateusz Gamrot, and Beneil Dariush won’t work their way down just for the sake of it. But it used to be better.
Michael Chandler’s lofty aspirations may hit base one day on Islam Makhachev (Source: UFC.go.com/Instagram)The callouts were more brazen. Michael ‘Iron’ Chandler, a former Bellator champ, dreamed big. He once tweeted that Oliveira should wait for McGregor’s return while he fights Makhachev next. Chael Sonnen took a liking to this.
Nobody calls out Islam Makhachev, well Michael Chandler did… If you get a hold of Islam and you get the jump on Islam, you go forward and forward, the way Chandler laid the map out will either put you in the lap of Conor McGregor or Charles Oliveira so he gets exactly what he wanted…
Chael Sonnen on ‘Beyond the Fight’ (via @ChaelSonnenOfficial) back in 2022
Sonnen is a fan of out-of-pocket brazen callouts that keep people in the conversation. Case in point, he recently lauded Ilia Topuria’s out-of-pocket claims about having a fixated date for Max Holloway. ‘The American Gangster’ said nobody dared to call out the wrestle-heavy monstrous Dagestani. Even if the bout didn’t substantiate, this puts him on the map, which could land him in McGregor’s lap.
Or, for the then-vacant lightweight title strap. While the latter did not happen, Michael Chandler did end up coaching role alongside ‘Notorious’ for TUF: Season 31 and ended up as a rival. Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) does not have any fight billed as of yet, but even now, such callouts can work wonders.
