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“Go home and fight with other fighters. He is not a high level championship fighter.”
UFC newcomer Michael Chandler is on standby for the UFC 254 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, but Khabib has advised the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion to pack his bags and go home.
Chandler is currently stationed on Fight Island but Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe the MMA veteran is deserving of a spot on Saturday’s blockbuster card, telling TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter that he wouldn’t even need to use his wrestling to beat the 34-year-old.
Khabib: “I don’t even need to use my wrestling against Michael Chandler. I know he came here to Abu Dhabi, but he’s going to come here, make weight and go home… Go home and fight with other fighters. He is not a high level championship fighter.”
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— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 19, 2020
“I don’t even need to use my wrestling against Michael Chandler. I know he came here to Abu Dhabi, but he’s going to come here, make weight and go home… Go home and fight with other fighters. He is not a high level championship fighter,” Nurmagomedov said.
Chandler is, in fact, a former NCAA Division I wrestler and widely considered one of the best lightweight fighters in the world. The Sanford MMA product holds notable victories over Benson Henderson (former UFC lightweight champ), Eddie Alvarez (former UFC lightweight champ), and Patricky Freire. Chandler is on standby for UFC 254 should either Khabib or Gaethje pull out at the last minute.
The pay-per-view, which features Khabib vs. Gaethje as the main event, takes place this Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.