Will Dana White give the green light for this Michael Chandler clash?
The UFC president has already rejected talk of the veteran lightweight’s major goal for 2026, as Chandler continues to pursue Conor McGregor three years on from a fight between the 2 first being announced.
After they coached opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, McGregor pulled out of a 2024 fight against ‘Iron’ on account of a toe injury. The promotion has not revisited the matchup since, and White recently ruled out rebooking it for the White House event in June.
Chandler hopes White changes his mind and just isn’t giving up on a fight he has waited years for just yet. Within the meantime, he could possibly be set for an additional task on the wrestling mats.
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Michael Chandler accepts Arman Tsarukyan’s wrestling callout
Chandler lost to UFC 324 star Paddy Pimblett last April and has not entered the Octagon since. Nevertheless, the previous three-time Bellator champion did recently make his return to combat sports competition by going back to his roots.
The 39-year-old became the most recent UFC star to make his debut in Real American Freestyle. At the brand new wrestling organization’s fifth event earlier this month, Chandler defeated Chad Mendes.
‘Iron’ is seemingly planning to be a frequent figure under the RAF banner, and he already has a minimum of one option for his next match after being called out by fellow UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
“I saw any individual comment the opposite day, ‘Man, Arman’s done a extremely good job of staying relevant during this time.’ I get it. He talks about everybody. He’s saying my name,” Chandler said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“One thing I’ll say about Arman, the dude has stayed busy with these grappling matches. I watched him wrestle live at RAF; he did a fantastic job there.
“I feel I’m interested (in facing Tsarukyan),” he continued. “My plan A, the one thing I’m focused on, is fighting on the White House.
“His future is somewhat up within the air. Mine’s up within the air as well, but less up within the air than his is.
“Who knows. But yeah, I’ll wrestle against him.”
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Arman Tsarukyan is in talks to wrestle Michael Chandler’s former UFC rival
On the subject of grappling Tsarukyan, Chandler may have to get in line.
It was recently revealed that negotiations are underway for Dustin Poirier to wrestle Tsarukyan under the Hype FC banner in February.
There was no update on that for the reason that promotion’s CEO, Armand Martirosian, disclosed the early talks in an interview on Jason Takhtadjian’s YouTube channel.
Chandler has an interesting history with ‘The Diamond’, having shared the Octagon with him in a memorable clash at Madison Square Garden in late 2022.
Poirier submitted Chandler at UFC 281 before accusing the previous Bellator champion of utilizing dirty tactics by fish-hooking him through the fight.
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