Free agent and ex-Bellator MMA lightweight champion Michael Chandler has hinted at a fight with UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier.
Michael Chandler is currently a free agent, but it sounds like a desired matchup against one of the UFC’s elite could favor a landing spot with the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Chandler recently took to Twitter and posted a GIF of a diamond, a likely nod to Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier, one of the UFC’s top lightweight competitors. Chandler captioned the post with, “Man…the public wants it if it happens….”
Man…the public wants it if it happens…. pic.twitter.com/mDkoTV4tLW
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) August 20, 2020
Chandler is a three-time lightweight champion in Bellator MMA, and coming off two back-to-back knockout victories to end his contract with the promotion, at 34-years-old, he could be looking to test himself in the world’s premier MMA organization. UFC president Dana White recently said he’s open to meeting with Chandler and seeing if they can get a deal done. A fight against someone like Poirier would certainly be a tremendous way to debut in the UFC.
Poirier comes off a big victory over Dan Hooker in June. It was “The Diamond’s” first win since his UFC lightweight title fight loss to champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, an opportunity he earned after stringing together five-straight victories over some of the biggest names in the division. If Chandler wants to face Poirier in a potential debut in the UFC, it’s sure to be one of, if not the, most difficult fights of his career.
