Michael Chandler has agreed to fight Tony Ferguson. However, he has a counter-offer in place. The former two-time Bellator lightweight champion is willing to fight El Cucuy in January. You heard that right! Chandler has agreed to take on Tony Ferguson, but he wants the fight to take place in the co-main event of UFC 257 which will headline Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier in a potential #1 contender’s match for the UFC lightweight championship.
“The UFC didn’t offer me the fight in December because they know I’m on a timeline now. I just made weight in October. Everybody knows I’m an active fighter and I’m constantly training. But I needed just four weeks off. Tony is campaigning for us to fight in 3.5 weeks.” Chandler said.
The former interim champion Tony Ferguson had called out Michael Chandler for a fight in December after multiple pull-outs resulted in an almost vacant UFC 256 card. Chandler’s counter-offer to fight in the co-main event of UFC 256 is yet to meet a response from the El Cucuy.
Is Michael Chandler ducking a five-round fight against Tony Ferguson?
Tony Ferguson has always been a fighter to step up and take the fight. He has proved it in the past and recently proved it by taking a short-notice match-up against Justin Gaethje. Ferguson’s call-out of Michael Chandler would have meant that both the fighters engage in a five-round fight. However, that won’t be the case in the co-main event of UFC 257.
Tony Ferguson has always been a five-round fighter. He is someone who might lose a couple of rounds to eventually get a stoppage win in the later rounds. Chandler might be looking at taking this advantage away from the El Cucuy by offering to fight in a three-round fight.
Michael Chandler has a lot to gain from a win over Ferguson. Iron Chandler could find himself with an immediate title opportunity should he get past El Cucuy. Simply put, a three-round fight is the best gain for Chandler who has quickly become a top star for the UFC despite having never fought for the promotion.
On the other side, Ferguson should be looking to wait around for the winner of Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier to give himself enough time to head from the beating he took against Justin Gaethje from back at UFC 248. Tony Ferguson against either McGregor or Poirier is an exciting match-up and one that is bound to put the UFC’s lightweight division on notice.
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