In a surprising turn of events, Michael Chandler has officially accepted a match against Arman Tsarukyan after UFC President Dana White dismissed any prospects of Chandler fighting Conor McGregor. This situation raises the question: will Dana White ultimately greenlight this intriguing matchup between Chandler and Tsarukyan?
Chandler's pursuit of a showdown with McGregor has faced significant setbacks. The two were originally set to fight in 2024, following their coaching stint together on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. However, McGregor had to withdraw due to a toe injury, and since then, the UFC hasn't revisited the potential clash. Recently, White put the final nail in the coffin regarding this matchup, stating it won't be happening during the upcoming White House event in June.
Despite this setback, Chandler remains hopeful that White might reconsider, as he has not lost sight of a fight he has been anticipating for years. In the interim, however, Chandler is gearing up for a different challenge on the wrestling mats.
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Chandler has recently expressed interest in competing against fellow UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan, who issued a callout to him. After suffering a loss to Paddy Pimblett in April at UFC 324, Chandler hasn't fought in the Octagon since. However, the former three-time Bellator champion made a comeback in combat sports by participating in Real American Freestyle (RAF), a wrestling organization. At their fifth event earlier this month, Chandler secured a victory over Chad Mendes.
The 39-year-old seems eager to become a regular competitor under the RAF umbrella, and he now has at least one potential opponent lined up after Tsarukyan's callout. "I noticed someone commented recently that Arman has done an excellent job of remaining relevant during this period," Chandler remarked on The Ariel Helwani Show. "He talks about everyone and mentions my name."
Chandler acknowledged Tsarukyan's dedication, stating, "One thing I will say about Arman is that he has stayed active with his grappling matches. I saw him wrestle live at RAF, and he performed admirably. I think I’m interested in facing Tsarukyan, but my primary focus remains on fighting at the White House event. My future is somewhat uncertain, but I believe mine is less unpredictable than his. Who knows? But yes, I'm open to wrestling against him."
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As for Arman Tsarukyan, he might have to navigate through some negotiations before facing Chandler. Reports suggest that discussions are ongoing for Dustin Poirier to grapple with Tsarukyan under the Hype FC banner in February. There haven't been any updates since Armand Martirosian, the promotion’s CEO, shared details about these early talks in an interview.
Chandler has an intriguing backstory with Poirier, having fought him in an unforgettable bout at Madison Square Garden in late 2022. In that match, Poirier submitted Chandler at UFC 281, subsequently accusing him of using dirty tactics, such as fish-hooking, during their fight.
What do you think of this evolving situation in the UFC? Is a matchup between Chandler and Tsarukyan a step in the right direction, or should Chandler remain focused on pursuing McGregor? Let us know your thoughts!
