Islam Makhachev admits Michael Chandler's quick UFC title shot frustrated him
Islam Makhachev took umbrage with Michael Chandler’s quick rise in the UFC.
Upon signing with the UFC, former Bellator champion Chandler needed just one win to earn a shot at the vacant lightweight title. After knocking out Dan Hooker in January 2021, Chandler fought Charles Oliveira four months later for the belt, but fell short in a knockout loss at UFC 262.
Unlike Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC), current UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) had to win 10 consecutive fights before getting his first title opportunity.
“It’s so hard, big way,” Makhachev told Demetrious Johnson on his path to a UFC title. “10-fight win streak. That’s why before the belt, I told everybody now I think I have the key for the title shot, I did everything I could, just give me the title shot.”
Makhachev acknowledges that marketability may have played a factor in his longer road to gold. Watching Chandler get his title shot so quickly bothered him.
“Maybe before I didn’t speak English, I don’t promote,” Makhachev admitted. “I have all my life problems to fight with some top fighter. Nobody want to fight. I don’t know, it was so hard. For Khabib (Nurmagomedov), also. We don’t have some easy way.
“Somebody can jump from like – like Michael Chandler, he jump from Bellator, one fight, he beat Dan Hooker, fight for the title. For me, it’s not working. Like, OK, of course, it makes me upset you know when somebody jump and fight for the belt before me. I had a long way. I fought like how many years, but somebody come and beat one guy who is not like top.”
The long wait paid off for Makhachev, who’s now the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. He will look to notch a UFC lightweight record four title defenses when he runs things back with Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 headliner Jan. 18 from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., which airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.