Michael Chandler has accepted a match with Arman Tsarukyan after UFC president Dana White dismissed the possibility of a fight between Chandler and Conor McGregor.
The anticipation surrounding whether Dana White will approve this new matchup is palpable. For years, Chandler has been vocal about his desire to face McGregor, especially after their time coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. However, plans for a fight were derailed when McGregor withdrew from their scheduled bout in 2024 due to a toe injury. Since then, there’s been little movement toward rescheduling this intriguing showdown, and White has recently made it clear that he does not plan to revisit this matchup for the upcoming White House event in June.
Despite this setback, Chandler remains hopeful that White might reconsider and allow him the opportunity he has long desired. While he patiently waits for that chance, he seems ready to turn his focus to other challenges, including wrestling competitions.
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In the meantime, Chandler has accepted a callout from Arman Tsarukyan, who competes in the same lightweight division. After losing to rising star Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 last April, Chandler has not fought in the Octagon since. However, he recently returned to his wrestling roots, participating in Real American Freestyle (RAF), where he showcased his skills by defeating Chad Mendes at one of their recent events.
At 39 years old, Chandler is eager to stay active within the sport. He is keen on making appearances under the RAF banner and is already considering his next move following Tsarukyan's challenge. On The Ariel Helwani Show, Chandler acknowledged Tsarukyan’s efforts to maintain his relevance within the sport, stating, "I saw somebody comment the other day, ‘Man, Arman’s done a really good job of staying relevant during this time.’ I get it. He talks about everybody. He’s saying my name."
Chandler continued to express his respect for Tsarukyan, noting, "One thing I will say about Arman, the dude has stayed busy with these grappling matches. I watched him wrestle live at RAF; he did a great job there. I think I am interested in facing Tsarukyan. My plan A, the one thing I’m focused on, is fighting at the White House. His future is somewhat up in the air. Mine’s up in the air as well, but less up in the air than his is. Who knows? But yeah, I’ll wrestle against him."
FLASHBACK: Justin Gaethje was knocked out in training by a UFC Hall of Famer before his very first professional MMA fight.
As for Tsarukyan, he may have to deal with other contenders vying for his attention. Reports suggest that discussions are ongoing for Dustin Poirier to face Tsarukyan in a wrestling match under the Hype FC banner this February. Since the news broke, there have been no further updates, leaving fans eager for more information.
Chandler has an intriguing backstory with Poirier, having fought him in a notable encounter at Madison Square Garden in late 2022. During that match at UFC 281, Poirier managed to submit Chandler, but not without some controversy; afterward, he accused Chandler of resorting to dirty tactics during their intense bout.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the dynamic world of UFC and its fighters!
