Chandler can’t help but be excited about fighting Makhachev for the lightweight title. He likes the stylistic match between his wrestling and Makhachev’s grappling.
“I think I’m the best wrestler in the division,” Chandler said. “I think he has to go through a lightweight before talking about him fighting a featherweight [Alexander Volkanovski] even though they both top the list pound for pound, but that’s not up to me.
MMA coaches break down UFC 281 main event
With the UFC’s plans for the lightweight title out of his control, Chandler’s all of his attention is on “The Diamond.”
Chandler sees Poirier as another one of those fighters who lives the lifestyle of a champion, does the little things well, is a technician and, above all, always strives to be the best version of themselves.
“You see two guys at the height of their careers in the mecca of combat sports, and the emotions and the feeling are going to be high,” Chandler said. “The pace is going to be blistering, and you have two guys who want to finish; two guys who don’t want to fight fifteen minutes. I want to go and I want to finish Dustin Poirier and he wants to finish me in fifteen minutes. May the best man win, one of us will raise our hand, and I also think you’ll see the mutual respect after the fight.
