Dana White explains why Michael Chandler is fighting for the title after just one fight in the UFC.
Tony Ferguson thinks the only reason that Michael Chandler is getting a title shot in his second UFC fight at UFC 262 is because of ‘Dana White privilege’.
‘El Cucuy’ put Chandler on blast at yesterday’s press conference at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, where the latter will take on Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title on May 15.
White found Ferguson’s comments amusing but denied any favoritism towards Chandler, claiming that ‘Iron’s’ willingness to fight anybody, anywhere is what landed him a spot in Saturday’s UFC 262 main event.
“Yeah, I was just talking about him earlier,” White said of Chandler in a recent interview with TSN (h/t MMA News). “When we were getting ready to sign him, I was literally sitting on the runway getting ready to take off. And my lawyer called me and said, ‘We’re on the one yard line with this kid and whatever. Will you just get on the phone and talk to him.’ I talked to him for five minutes, the nicest kid in the world, great attitude, wanted nothing more than to be in the UFC and fight for a UFC world title. I called Hunter back and I said, ‘I don’t care what he wants. Get it done. Give him whatever he wants, sign this kid, I love him.”
“Comes in, willing to fight anybody, willing to go anywhere and do anything, will be the backup, will do this, will do that…that type of attitude and the type of fight that he fought against Hooker got him to where he is right now”.
Chandler KO’d Dan Hooker in his UFC debut despite being written off by just about every other fighter on the roster, proving himself as a top-five lightweight.
UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler takes place this Saturday, May 15 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.