Michael Chandler is a three-time Bellator Lightweight champion (Instagram)
Michael Chandler is at Fight Island as cover for the main event but already has his sights set on a big UFC name
Former Bellator champion Michael Chandler is serving as the cover for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje at Fight Island.
The American is keen on making a mark in the UFC after signing but there is no confirmation on who he fights next.
Chandler is at Fight Island for UFC 254 and was interviewed by the Schmo. The former Bellator star was asked if he wanted to fight a top-five star right now, and he was keen on doing something big:
“I do. Of course, I don’t want to come in entitled saying I want certain things but I think either I am who I say I am or I am not.
“I am not here for a long time, I am here for a good time and want to get thrown to the wolves right away.
“You got Khabib and Gaethje, you got Conor and Poirier who are booked, that leaves Tony Ferguson.
“Tony Ferguson said no the first time we talked about fighting on this card, which would have been the co-main event.
“So I would love to fight Tony Ferguson.”
Ferguson last fought against Gaethje at UFC 249 and hasn’t been in action since. Chandler revealed in another interview to Helen Yee that Ferguson had turned down the fight but he still respected El Cucuy.
Chandler getting a chance to show his skills might be slim on Saturday and the American accepted that too.
However, he was taking this event in his stride and claimed there were a lot of positives to his trip. Gaethje and Chandler also flew on the same flight and he had a ton of praise for the challenger to Khabib’s gold:
“The dude is a savage. He is an absolute savage, the way he fights, the way he brings it. He is an American wrestler just like me. I am a fan of his style but that was the beauty of this.
“Whether I get to fight or don’t get to fight. Here we are standing next to you and beautiful Abu Dhabi.
“I get a dress rehearsal, a dry run, if I don’t fight. I get to size up Khabib, size up Gaethje or any other Lightweights on the card, and go through the UFC experience whether I fight or not.”
It will be interesting to see who Chandler gets in his first fight. Ferguson vs Chandler would be something and hopefully, the UFC has a cracking opponent for their new star.
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