UFC 268: Michael Chandler says Justin Gaethje’s punches ‘aren’t anything special’
- ‘He probably has the best leg kicks in the division or in the world, but I’ve seen those before,’ Chandler insists
- Former Bellator champ anticipates another crack at lightweight title with victory on Saturday
Michael Chandler is hoping for a quick journey back to a UFC title shot.
The 35-year-old Chandler (22-6), a former Bellator lightweight champion, battled Brazil‘s Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight belt in May. Despite some early success, he was ultimately dropped and stopped by the Brazilian in round two.
Chandler will look to get back on track against Justin Gaethje on the UFC 268 main card this Saturday night in New York City. If his pre-fight comments are any indication, the Oliveira loss did little to smother his confidence.
“You‘re fighting in a cage against tough opponents in four-ounce gloves: of course there’s always that possibility that bad things are going to happen, that you’re going to get clipped,” Chandler said at Wednesday’s UFC 268 media day. “That’s where your mettle is really tested, in those moments of defeat, where you can pull yourself back up.
“That just made me even more hungry. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on myself and my skills and where I need to get better. Over the last 10 weeks, down at Sanford MMA, we‘ve cleaned up some things.”
Chandler and his fellow American Gaethje (22-3) are considered two of the top contenders in the UFC‘s perilous lightweight division. They’re also regarded as two of the most exciting fighters competing in MMA today.