UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s protégé, Islam Makhachev, is currently one of the best in the UFC roster. The current lightweight champion has proven his dominance inside the octagon. However, fellow lightweight fighter Michael Chandler believes that he can go head-to-head with the Dagestan champion. Islam Makhachev‘s UFC record stands at 12 wins and just 1 loss (23 wins and 1 loss overall in MMA). As of now, he’s all set to take on Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia. They will be fighting for the lightweight title and the title of number 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.

Michael Chandler, however, spoke about fighting Islam Makhachev with Michael Bisping on the ‘Believe You Me’ podcast. ‘Iron’ claims that might be able to defeat the reigning UFC lightweight champion.

Michael Chandler believes he could out-wrestle Islam Makhachev

UFC legend Michael Bisping asked ‘Iron’ about the outcome of a wrestling match between him and Islam Makhachev. At first, Chandler didn’t want to answer the question because he thought people think that he was not in a position to do so after losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281. However, he did provide his opinion and distinguished the difference in wrestling style between the Dagestani fighters and American fighters.

“If I was going to wrestle Islam, I do believe …there are two completely different styles, and I didn’t wrestle a lot of international quite frankly,” said the 36-year-old. He went on to say that he had fought a few fighters who hail from Dagestan and have a similar wrestling style to that of Islam Makhachev.

Moreover, Michael Chandler claimed that the American style of wrestling can be effective in beating Makhachev‘s style. He said, “It’s a different style but in my opinion, good old-fashioned American Division 1 wrestling works very well against it [Makhachev’s wrestling style] as long as you can withstand the hand-fighting cos’ they are very strong.” 

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Michael Chandler mentions the fact that fighters from Makhachev‘s part of the world are extremely strong athletes. “Those guys just feel different when they grab you. You know it’s less slick …But I think I can beat Islam in a wrestling match,” said Chandler.

UFC currently has no plans for ‘Iron’ Chandler as of now. He has been called out by rising UFC star Arman Tsarukyan. The Georgian fighter claims that the former title challenger has the lowest fight IQ in the whole lightweight division. But Chandler has been pushing for a match with UFC’s PPV monster, Conor McGregor.

What are your thoughts? Drop your comments below.

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