Michael Chandler has put on a barrage of exciting bouts since joining the UFC, quickly establishing himself as a must-see attraction at 155lbs. The former Bellator champ debuted in 2021 with a stunning knockout victory over Dan Hooker, immediately putting the division on notice. Since then, the Missouri native has been involved in several high-profile bouts in his career.

However, his all-out explosive style has not been kind to his win column. And after a string of losses, ‘Iron’ currently finds himself in the twilight of his career. Amidst all the chaos, former UFC 155lbs champ Eddie Alvarez has shown his interest in fighting him but under a different banner. Can this fight really happen? Well, it seems that Michael Bisping has the answer for you!

Michael Bisping weighs in on a potential third bout between Chandler and Alvarez

Eddie Alvarez believes that Michael Chandler hasn’t quite reached his full potential in the UFC. Since making his debut in 2021, Chandler has posted a 2-4 record, though he’s been part of some unforgettable fights. Having faced ‘Iron’ twice for the title in two of the greatest Bellator bouts, ‘The Underground King’ is well aware of Chandler’s skills but feels the fighter hasn’t yet shown what he’s truly capable of in the UFC. For the unversed, Alvarez was able to achieve championship success when he joined the UFC, but Chandler has struggled to reach that same level of glory.

Amid this all, Alvarez has shown interest in wrapping up his rivalry with Chandler in a trilogy fight, but he’s aware that it’s unlikely to happen in the UFC. However, the former UFC champ believes the matchup could become a reality under the BKFC banner, where both fighters could finally square off again. During a conversation with MMA Junkie, he said, “Let’s let him fight again, and if he’s on the same trajectory and he loses again, he can maybe get cut, and then just come over to Bare Knuckle and let’s do it with no gloves.”

While the idea might excite many of the fans out there, UFC analyst Michael Bisping doesn’t quite feel the same. While speaking to Mike Harrington on his YouTube podcast he shared his honest opinion on the whole. He said, “I mean Michael Chandler is a great fighter. He just hasn’t got the results you know simple as that.” However, on the idea of Alvarez wanting to fight ‘Iron’, he pointed out that it was just a statement and nothing else. He said, “So how many times did Chandler and Alvarez fight? Did they fight two times? Yeah so of course that’s why Alvarez says that because anytime somebody beats you one time. You’re like this guy’s better than this.” 

Recently, Chandler has shown interest in fighting several big names, including

Conor McGregor, as well as the rising star Paddy Pimblett. Although McGregor has yet to respond to Chandler’s ongoing challenges, ‘Iron’ did receive recognition from Pimblett. During one of his YouTube videos, he said, “I’ll see you at the top,” and it’s easy to recognize that as Chandler’s signature catchphrase. This has sparked plenty of buzz and speculation, and even Michael Bisping has shared his opinion on the whole.

Michael Bisping gives his honest take on Chandler vs. Pimblett

It’s going to be a tough task for UFC CEO Dana White to find the right matchup for Michael Chandler, especially after his loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. Chandler had already been patient, waiting for a fight with Conor McGregor, who had to pull out of UFC 303 due to a toe injury. As a result, ‘Iron’ moved on and laid out a solid plan for 2025. However, the defeat against the Brazilian has now complicated things, forcing him to reassess his next steps.

Recently, Chandler responded to Paddy Pimblett after the latter dropped a cryptic hint suggesting a potential fight between them. Bisping who has always been a fan of the former Bellator champion feels he might have a problem getting the fight. He shared his honest take during his podcast and said,

“I am not ripping Michael Chandler. It’s just the reality of the situation when you lose a fight regardless of how entertaining it is, regardless of whether you get the fight of the night, regardless of, like, let’s say, the last fight of your deal, and the UFC are like ‘well, that fight was awesome so we’re gonna give you another deal.’ It doesn’t matter at the end of the day matter for the rank.” It will now be interesting to see who the UFC decides to line up for ‘Iron’s’ next fight.

Chandler’s blueprint for 2025 has now changed for the time being. Do you think he can return to winning ways this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!