Michael Chandler has always enjoyed some chaos. But, ahead of his UFC 314 return against the undefeated Paddy Pimblett, things have heated up beyond the Octagon as well. This time, the pressure comes not only from Pimblett’s mounting momentum but also from one of MMA’s sharpest minds. Team Khabib’s head coach, Javier Mendez, has chimed in on the bout, and his brutal prediction on Chandler’s upcoming fight has the MMA world buzzing. So, what did the coach say?

Mendez spoke on the Javier & Mo Show and provided an honest breakdown that got to the heart of the situation. Without sugarcoating it, he implied that ‘Iron’ is entering a must-win situation, which fans and pundits have suspected for some time. “I might favor Paddy a little bit because he’s on a roll,” he said, drawing parallels to Dustin Poirier’s fight with Islam Makhachev. “Michael has to, you know, do or die—kind of like what Dustin did with Islam. You know, he gave it his best, and man, that was a hell of a fight.”

Mendez did not rule out Chandler’s chances—far from it. In fact, he argued that this pressure cooker situation could bring out the best form of ‘Iron Mike.’ However, he emphasized the need for mental power. And now is when things become interesting. “It’s possible. It’s all mental—how they can get into their mind and what they can get their body to do. You’d be surprised what people can do when they have the right mental approach.” On the other hand, Chandler, the ultimate professional, seems pretty unfazed by all the buzz against him. In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, the 38-year-old acknowledged the rumors and made it clear that he is not here to play games.

“I’m not taking Paddy lightly,” Chandler added. “Even if he self-proclaims he looks like a 16-year-old boy, he doesn’t fight like that.” For ‘Iron,’ this fight isn’t about resumes or rankings—it’s about raw danger. “I’m looking at Paddy like he’s the most dangerous guy I could possibly face on April 12th.” Michael Chandler understands what’s at risk after years of fighting some of the sport’s best—and he’s definitely approaching it as a fight for survival.

There is no doubt that Michael Chandler’s back is against the wall. The Conor McGregor situation has taken away his momentum, resulting in a three-fight skid and a two-year layoff. But if there’s one thing fight fans know about ‘Iron,’ it’s that he never takes shortcuts. With Pimblett on his way to glory and Mendez’s somber reminder ringing in the background, Chandler is set to dig deep and deliver one more show-stopping performance.

Whether it’s do or die, he’s determined to go down fighting. However, it is also worth noting that while Coach Javier Mendez rooted for ‘Baddy,’ Pimblett has already declared that once he wins, he would be coming for team Dagestan.

Paddy Pimblett to go against Team Khabib post-Michael Chandler fight

While Michael Chandler prepares for what could be his final fight, Paddy Pimblett has already set his sights beyond UFC 314. And if you thought the Liverpool native was looking for a celebratory lap, think again. ‘The Baddy’ doesn’t just want to beat Chandler; he wants to make a statement that catapults him to the top tier of the lightweight class. But here’s the kicker: he doesn’t intend to slack down after April 12. In fact, he’s already planning to take the fight to the same camp that doubted Chandler’s chances—Team Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Pimblett, as confident as ever, recently dismissed concerns about competing in five rounds for the first time in his UFC career. Why? Because he doesn’t think ‘Iron’ is going to survive even half as long. “He’s getting finished in two,” Paddy Pimblett stated casually, dismissing the idea that fight time counts when the outcome is already decided in his view. But it was what occurred next that caught everyone’s attention. ‘The Baddy’ revealed his next move after Miami: a fight in Abu Dhabi, followed by a run at a top-five challenger, and last, the crown jewel—a title opportunity in 2026.

But a title shot isn’t all he wants. Make no mistake: Paddy Pimblett has his eyes set on Islam Makhachev. If he goes past Michael Chandler and wins again later this year, the Englishman will be in a strong position to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protégé. For someone who previously danced his way into the UFC spotlight, Pimblett’s path has taken a sharp, planned turn. The arrogance remains, but there is a clear direction—and it is targeted straight at Khabib’s own empire. What do you think? Will ‘The Baddy’ be able to find his way to a title shot? Let us know in the comments.