After putting his career on hold for over 18 months while waiting for his ‘red panty night’ against UFC superstar Conor McGregor, UFC ranked #6 lightweight contender Michael Chandler is now ready to face former champion Charles Oliveira at the upcoming Madison Square Garden event, UFC 309, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic.

As ‘Iron Mike’ gears up for his octagon return, he has already encountered criticism from those who have questioned his prolonged wait for ‘Notorious’. His fellow top-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan, seized another opportunity to criticize Chandler in a recent interview when he saw the chance to demean him.

Arman Tsarukyan critiques Michael Chandler ahead of UFC 309

Michael Chandler and Arman Tsarukyan have developed a rivalry lately, with Tsarukyan consistently taunting the former Bellator champion over the postponements of the ‘Iron Mike’- ‘Mystic Mac’ fight. In response, Chandler has seized every opportunity to retaliate, leading to a back-and-forth exchange of insults between the two.

Tsarukyan has been slated to fight Islam Makhachev for the title in January next year. When asked about this in a recent interview with MMA Fighting,  Michael Chandler predicted a Makhachev victory, stating, “I just don’t think Arman has enough to beat Islam.” Now, taking advantage of the situation to address the rivalry, Tsarukyan spoke to MMA Junkie recently to talk about Chandler’s return to the octagon. Tsarukyan dismissed his abilities, claiming, “Michael Chandler is going to lose for sure. He’s an easy fight for Charles Oliveira. Oliveira is going to choke him out or knock him out. He’s easy money for Oliveira, so I’m happy for him.”

Tsarukyan proceeded to discuss the trajectory of the lightweight division, challenging the notion of Chandler’s guaranteed matchup with Conor McGregor should he lose to Oliveira. He stated, “After that fight, Oliveira is going to be next after me. I’m going to fight Islam, and after that, Oliveira will fight for the title for sure. He has a big name, and he was the champion, so the UFC loves him.”

Despite Arman Tsarukyan’s critical remarks, Chandler remains hopeful about ultimately battling Conor McGregor once ‘Iron Mike’ concludes his obligations with Charles Oliveira next year, even labeling the Irishman “the most unreliable human being ever.”

Michael Chandler hints at possible future fight with McGregor

Despite labeling Conor McGregor as an unreliable individual, Michael Chandler is still dreaming of the lucrative money fight against him. Initially, this bout was scheduled to take place just after the conclusion of TUF Season 31 back in 2023. However, ‘Mystic Mac’s’ issues with USADA, stemming from his failure to make himself available for testing, complicated the matchup.

These challenges coincided with McGregor’s Hollywood aspirations, including his role in the successful film starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Road House. When the fight finally got a date, McGregor broke his pinky toe during sparring, forcing the 38-year-old Chandler to shift his focus to Charles Oliveira. ‘Iron Mike’ had already invested too much time in his twilight career, so in hopes of securing his “red panty night,” he remains open to a matchup against ‘Notorious’.

While speaking to Bo Nickal on his YouTube channel, Chandler stated, “Obviously, I want the Conor fight. I feel like we have unfinished business; we have to finish the Ultimate Fighter 31. But I have also waited long enough. I waited the right amount of time, having the security and reassurances behind the scenes that nobody knew about.”

What’s your take on Arman Tsarukyan’s prediction? Do you believe his assessment reflects a sincere evaluation rather than being influenced solely by his rivalry with Michael Chandler, especially given ‘Iron Mike’s’ status as a former Bellator champion? Drop your opinion below.