MIAMI – Michael Chandler wants to see Justin Gaethje get the next UFC title shot.
With Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), Ilia Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, and Charles Oliveira all vying for a shot at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) hopes his former rival gets the nod. Chandler lost a Fight of the Year against Gaethje at UFC 268.
Along with Chandler, many fighters and pundits are on board with former interim champ Gaethje getting the opportunity, even though many can argue that his recent run presents the weakest case out of the top contenders. Gaethje was knocked out by Max Holloway at UFC 300, but rebounded with a decision win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313.
However, Chandler thinks Gaethje risking his ranking by facing former featherweight Holloway should be accounted for.
“If I’m thinking with my heart, I want Gaethje to get a shot,” Chandler told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday at UFC 314 media day. “Gaethje being the No. 1 guy and putting that No. 1 ranking on the line against Max Holloway for the BMF belt, and then losing that, so then he drops down a notch.
“Charles and I were the No. 1 contender fight, but now you’ve got Topuria coming up, you got (Dustin) Poirier retiring, you got Islam talking about going up to 170. There’s a bunch of rumblings about that in the media and things that he has said. The coolest thing is just being a part of the most interesting division in the world.”
Former Bellator champion Chandler will look to cement himself as a top lightweight when he takes on Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in Saturday’s five-round UFC 314 co-headliner (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Kaseya Center in Miami.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
