Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t view Michael Chandler as must of a threat.
While the UFC Lightweight Champion is preparing to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 this weekend, in case the Interim Lightweight title holder pulls out of the championship fight, then Chandler will serve as the replacement in the main event.
Nurmagomedov hasn’t spoken much about the former Bellator Lightweight Champion as he’s clearly focused on Gaethje; however, the 32-year-old did address his potential opponent and Khabib doesn’t view Chandler as a high-level championship fighter:
“I think I don’t even need to use my wrestling versus Michael Chandler, that is what I think. I know he came here to Abu Dhabi, but he’s going to come here, make weight and go home,” Khabib Nurmagomedov said to Aaron Bronsteter of TSN.
“This is what I think, thank you Michael Chandler. Go home and fight with other fighters. He’s not a high-level championship fighter in UFC because two-fight ago he lost in another organization. He lost to in Bellator to a featherweight, he knocked him out. He has to improve himself, he has to show the world he can fight for the title and fight with someone who is top-five in UFC and then we can talk about him.”
While Chandler did lose to Patrício Freire at Bellator 221, the 34-year-old still has an impressive resume as the former Bellator Lightweight Champion has beaten Marcin Held, Patricky Pitbull, Eddie Alvarez, Rick Hawn, Akihiro Gono, David Rickels, Derek Campos, Ben Henderson, Goiti Yamauchi and Brent Primus.